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The high production cost and extremely weak mechanical properties of SiO 2 aerogels have been two major challenges hindering its widespread application. Atmospheric pressure drying (APD) has always been regarded as the optimal process to reduce costs. However, traditional APD is cumbersome, still uses a large amount of expensive raw materials, and is extremely immature. In this study, a novel APD was developed, inspired by the wing changes during adult damselfly process. Inorganic silica source/water was used as the raw material, and CO 2 was used instead of low surface tension solvent to stabilize the aerogel skeleton structure in situ, and ultimately aerogel material was obtained. The thermal conductivity of pure aerogels was as low as 0.0264 W/(m·K), the porosity reached 94.7 %, and the preparation cycle was only 28.5 h. The thermal stability of the skeleton structure and the chemical stability of surface were investigated and showed the hydrophobicity to withstand temperatures up to 400 °C. Aerogel composites feature low thermal conductivity of 0.0283 W/(m·K), and prominent thermal insulation properties over a wide temperature range of 50–300 °C. For traditional APD, this method shortens preparation cycle by 1–6 times. Compared with the commercial aerogel, the cost is reduced by 38.2 %, and the process is simple and environmentally friendly under the premise of ensuring excellent performance. [Display omitted] • A novel atmospheric pressure drying of aerogels preparation inspired by biology. • Stabilization of aerogel structures with CO 2 instead of low surface tension solvents. • The preparation cycle time is shortened by 1–6 times, the cost is reduced by 38.2 %. • Thermal conductivity of 0.0264 W/(m·K) and hydrophobic temperature resistance of 400 °C. • Aerogel composites have outstanding thermal insulation and moisture resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dy3+, Eu3+ co-doped glass ceramics (GCs) containing SrMoO 4 crystalline phase were prepared by melt-curing-crystallization method. The most favorable heat treatment conditions for the glass ceramics were found to be 610 °C/2 h by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ultraviolet spectrophotometer (UV–Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The best doping concentrations of Dy3+ and Eu3+ in this glass ceramic were 0.8 % and 0.6 %, concentration quenching caused by dipole-dipole interactions occurs when the content of rare earth ions in GCs continues to increase. The chromaticity coordinates of the Dy3+- Eu3+ co-doped glass ceramics changed from cool white light to warm white light with the addition of Eu3+ concentration. At the optimal doping concentration (0.8 % Dy3+-0.6 % Eu3+), the chromaticity coordinate of glass ceramics is (0.3972, 0.3331), and the related color temperature is 3047 K. The luminescence intensity can still reach about 80 % of room temperature at 180 °C, and its thermal quenching activation energy is 0.233 eV. This suggests that glass ceramics have excellent thermal stability. After adding an appropriate amount of Li+, the crystalline phase of the glass ceramics remained unchanged and the luminous intensity of the glass ceramics increased by a factor of about 1.4 in the same environment. The thermal quenching activation energy of the glass ceramic doped with 0.2 % Li+-0.8 % Dy3+-0.6 % Eu3+ was 0.344 eV. The experimental results indicate that GCs has potential application prospects in the field of solid-state lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the preparation of bimodal reinforced Cu/Ti 3 SiC 2 /C laminated-like composites using flake powder metallurgy and vacuum hot-press sintering process. The objective was to accurately modulate the formation of oriented reinforcement network in two-dimensional carbon materials. The powders used in the five designed composites were flake Cu powder (45–60 μm), Ti 3 SiC 2 (1–5 μm), graphite flakes (GFs, 120 μm) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs, 15 μm). Among them, the proportions of Ti 3 SiC 2 (10 wt %) and GFs (3 wt %) remained unchanged, GNPs accounted for 0 wt %, 0.5 wt %, 1.0 wt %, and 1.5 wt %, and Cu powder accounted for a decreasing proportion. Formation mechanisms of GFs and GNPs in oriented networks were quantitatively analyzed using the alignment model. Additionally, the related strengthening and failure mechanisms were investigated. According to the study, the bimodal laminated-like Cu/Ti 3 SiC 2 /C composites with 0.5 wt% GNPs added showed the best overall performance. Specifically, it exhibited a hardness of 125.7 HV, tensile strength of 276.3 MPa, thermal conductivity of 207.8 W m−1 K−1, and electrical conductivity of 23.6 MS/m. The network enhanced by the two-dimensional carbon material achieves efficient and orderly load transfer and dissipation mechanisms, optimizing stress distribution and enhancing fracture resistance, resulting in improved mechanical properties. In addition, the formation of the oriented reinforcement network optimizes the orientation arrangement of the reinforcing particles, which somewhat mitigates the scattering of thermoelectric carriers by structural defects in the composites, and the enlarged mean free-range improves the migration efficiency of electrons and phonons. Therefore, the erection of bimodal laminated-like structure achieves the goal of optimizing the properties of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New C/SiC composites with continuous fibers were produced through impregnation of carbon fiber preforms and consolidation by hot pressing. The resulting sintered material was investigated as a potential target for nuclear applications, such as radioisotope production. Desired properties include high porosity and high thermal conductivity to allow isotope release from the targets while working at high temperature. To this end, porosimetry and thermal and mechanical characterizations were conducted up to 1250°C. It was shown that the addition of fibers resulted in high porosity, about 40%, while maintaining a very high thermal conductivity, 40 W/m∙K at 1250°C, a value particularly attractive for the intended application. Emissivity at 1250°C was 0.76, compressive strength at room temperature was 134 MPa, and flexural strength passed from about 90 MPa before thermal conductivity measurements to 50 MPa after the tests. [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]

Strontium titanate nanoparticles (SrTiO 3 NPs) were produced via the solid-state reaction method. Then, they were used to enhance the structural, mechanical, electrical, and dielectric properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) blend for energy storage applications. For this purpose, SrTiO 3 NPs were dispersed in the polymer blend to fabricate nanocomposite films using a solution casting method. The nanocomposite films were then characterized using a variety of instruments, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Ultraviolet/Visible spectroscopy (UV/visible), and impedance analyzers. Based on XRD and TEM measurements, the synthesized SrTiO 3 NPs have a cubic perovskite phase and a diameter that varies between 70 and 160 nm. Additionally, according to XRD measurements, adding SrTiO 3 NPs to PVA/PEO reduces the crystallinity of the resulting nanocomposites. In addition, the surface morphology and elemental composition were demonstrated through the utilization of scanning electron microscope. (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis (EDX) spectra, where PVA and PEO polymers formed a homogenous and rough surface, and the SrTiO 3 NPs of low concentrations were spread out within the blend's structure. Analysis of the FTIR peaks revealed prominent characteristic peaks associated with vibrational groups that change randomly with the concentration of SrTiO 3 NPs. With increasing SrTiO 3 NPs concentration, the nanocomposite UV/visible absorbance, optical bandgap energies, and refractive index were calculated and discussed. Impedance studies conclude that the amount of SrTiO 3 NPs in a mixture raises the mixture's AC electrical conductivity, dielectric loss, and dielectric constant. The mechanical characteristics, such as Young's modulus, yield strength, and strain at failure, were assessed by examining the tensile test of prepared films. The thermal stability of PVA/PEO-SrTiO 3 nanocomposite films were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These experimental results point to the potential for employing the produced nanocomposites in optoelectronic and capacitive energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the machining of Inconel 718 using SiAlON ceramics, the tool life can be significantly influenced by diffusion wear. To investigate this crucial wear behavior, this study focuses on the thermochemical interactions in the diffusion couple between SiAlON ceramics and Inconel 718 superalloy. So, we examine the microstructural characteristics and phase formation behavior in the reacted layer between these two materials. The interfaces between these two materials exhibit distinguishable elemental contrasts and phase formations. Particularly, the phases indicate vitrification or devitrification in the diffusion layer, influenced by the chemical composition. This issue in the diffusion couple was analyzed with thermophysical properties using light flash analysis (LFA). After, it was confirmed that the vitrification of the diffusion layer can be induced by the conduction behavior of heat trapped between SiAlON and Inconel 718 during supercooling. These characterizations verify that the devitrification of the welding layer (diffusion layer), resulting from the reaction between SiAlON ceramics and Inconel 718 superalloy, can depend on the thermal conductivity of the prepared ceramics. Furthermore, we discovered a possibility that this could contribute to improving tool performance by suppressing diffusion wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a series of K 2 O–MgO–B 2 O 3 –P 2 O 5 (KMBP) glasses were prepared by the melt-quenching method and the glass-ceramics were prepared by the one-step heat treatment. The thermal, structural, physical and optical properties, as well as the crystallization behaviour of the KMBP system, were investigated in detail using characterization techniques such as DSC, XRD, SEM, FTIR, transmittance spectroscopy and microhardness. As indicated by DSC, the thermostability and glass-forming ability were gradually enhanced through the partial substitution of K 2 O by MgO. XRD showed that the main crystalline phases of the glass-ceramics (GC) were gradually converted from the P –Mg–K–O based crystalline phases to the P –Mg–O based and the P –Al–O based crystalline phases. The SEM results indicated that tiny grain-like crystals were successfully precipitated from the parent glasses after heat treatment. The deconvoluted FTIR spectra results showed a gradual conversion of the [BO 3 ] and [PO 3 ] units towards the [BO 4 ] and [PO 4 ] units with the increase of the MgO contents. The increase in the degree of glass network polymerization was the essential reason for the increment in the microhardness of the parent glasses. The microhardness of GC featured a trend concordant with the crystallinity of the crystalline phases. The values of metallization criteria (M C) between 0.34 and 0.45, as well as the higher values of third-order nonlinear polarizability (χ (3)) and nonlinear refractive index (n nl) are indicative of the good suitability of the KMBP glasses for the nonlinear optical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barium borosilicate (BBS) glass is a potential three-dimensional system packaging and sensor cover material. In this study, we prepared glass samples with different SiO 2 /B 2 O 3 ratios based on the revised model of Dell and Bray and discussed the effect of boron anomaly on dielectric and thermal properties through Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the [BO 4 ] tetrahedrons are beneficial in reducing the dielectric constant and dielectric loss to a certain extent, while the improvement in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is attributed to the depolymerization of the glass network by the [BO 3 ] triangles. After the disappearance of the boron anomaly, a certain amount of dielectric performance is sacrificed in exchange for an increase in the CTE. When the substitution rate of B 2 O 3 for SiO 2 reaches 15.12 mol%, the CTE of the sample increases to 8.43 × 10−6/°C, in addition, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss decrease to 4.90 and 0.0071 (@1 GHz), respectively. In summary, this work provides a suitable method for preparing glass with a high coefficient of expansion and low dielectric loss to address the thermal mismatch effect of different materials in electronic packaging systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive glasses (BG) containing silicon, phosphorous, and boron have emerged as promising materials for bone tissue engineering. Modifying ions play a multifaceted role in BGs, influencing their structure, properties, and biological activity that depends on their size, charge, and coordination chemistry. This study investigates the addition of sodium borate (Na 2 B 4 O 7) to the 58S BG and the mixed alkali effect (MAE) resulting from incorporating Na and B ions into the CaO–SiO 2 –P 2 O 5 system. In specific concentrations, Na+ and Ca2+ ions function as network modifiers, introducing structural disruptions and generating defects that impact the glass transition temperature (T g), crystallization temperature (T c), hardness, and sintering characteristics. The physicochemical characterization of BGs confirms the incorporation of Na and B structures. Furthermore, the Na and B doped glass sample with a [Na/Si] ratio of 0.045 exhibits favorable properties for promoting cell attachment, including forming a hydroxyapatite (HAp) layer over the surface, thereby accelerating human placental mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) proliferation. The findings demonstrate the potential of Na 2 B 4 O 7 incorporation in BG for bone tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work addresses the problem of obtaining of Ca 3 Co 4 O 9+δ -based ceramics with enhanced thermoelectric performance. Phase-inhomogeneous layered calcium cobaltite ceramics with cationic nonstoichiometry were prepared by solid-state reactions method and a field assisted sintering technology (FAST). Comprehensive experimental characterizations were conducted on the prepared bulk samples, focusing on their phase composition, as well as thermal (including thermal expansion, thermal diffusivity, and thermal conductivity), electrical (encompassing electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient), and functional properties (such as power factor and figure-of-merit). The FAST technique allowed to obtain ceramics with low porosity and high electrical conductivity, which increased as the Ca:Co ratio within the samples decreased, while sample phase inhomogeneity considerably increased the Seebeck coefficient. The best thermoelectric performance was demonstrated for cationic nonstoichiometric Ca 3 Co 4.4 O 9+δ , which power factor and figure-of-merit values at 825 °C reached 427 μW⋅m−1⋅K−2 and 0.146, respectively. • Ca 3 Co 4 O 9+δ -based ceramics prepared by field assisted sintering technology possessed low porosity and high conductivity. • Electrical conductivity of bulk samples increased at decreasing Ca:Co ratio. • Phase inhomogeneity of prepared ceramics increased the Seebeck coefficient. • Ca 3 Co 4.4 O 9+δ ceramics showed the best thermoelectric performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost amorphous nano-carbon (ANC) was employed as an absorbent to modify the microwave performance of AlN ceramics (AlN-4 wt% Y 2 O 3 - x wt% C, x = 0, 2.0, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0) via hot-pressing sintering, and the thermal and mechanical properties were also investigated. With the increase of ANC content from 0 to 4.0 wt%, the relative density of AlN composite decreases from 3.28 g cm−3 to 3.16 g cm−3 when sintered at 1800 °C for 2 h, and with the increase of sintering temperature from 1700 °C, the density of the 4.0 wt% ANC doped AlN composite presents trend of increase and reaches the maximum value of 3.16 g cm−3 at 1800 °C and then decreases. The XRD pattern shows that the composites are composed of AlN and Y–Al–O (YAG, YAP, YAM et al.) phases. SEM results indicate that average grain sizes for AlN and secondary phases gradually decrease with increasing carbon content, suggesting inhibited grain growth due to ANC addition. No obvious changes in phase constitution nor intensity changes were detected with the increase in carbon content and sintering temperature. As the carbon content increases from 0 to 4.0 wt%, the dielectric constant gradually increases from ∼9 to 13.89 at 10 GHz, the dielectric loss gradually increases from the vicinity of 10−3 to 0.38 at 10 GHz, and the reflective loss decreases from −27.92 dB to −49.40 dB, the thermal conductivity of the AlN-ANC composite decreases from 116.63 W m−1 K−1 to 50.13 W m−1 K−1. In addition, with 4.0 wt% ANC addition, the dielectric constant, dielectric loss, reflective loss, hardness, elastic modulus, bending strength, and fracture toughness are 13.89, 0.38, 49.40 dB, 6.4 ± 0.4 GPa, 262 GPa, 268.78 MPa, and 1.4 ± 0.1 MPa m1/2, respectively. Its ability to efficiently absorb microwave energy enhances the performance of devices including radar systems, communication equipment, and microwave heating systems, making it a promising candidate for microwave vacuum electronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of isolated lignin and utilization of nanotechnology to produce nanolignin as a functional material are paramount. Lignin was extracted from acid-saccharification sugarcane trash (SCT-ASac) to produce acid-saccharification lignin (ASac-lignin). Then, lignin was further processed to nanolignin by a self-assembly dialysis process using THF:ethanol (1:1) as the solvent. The chemical, physical, and thermal properties of the lignin were evaluated, and the nanolignin size was confirmed via morphological analysis and PSA. SCT-ASac treatment prior to lignin isolation affects the structure of SCT and enhances the accessibility of lignin. Furthermore, this pretreatment can reduce residual carbohydrates, increasing the purity value. ASac-lignin has a nonconjugated phenolic group structure with a high number of β-O-4 bonds, a syringyl content, aromatic groups with low thermal stability, and a molecular weight with good phenolic hydroxyl content and total phenolic compounds. The obtained nanolignin is a spherical and more uniform particle with sizes less than 100 nm. ASac-nanolignin has the potential to be an environmentally friendly material in derivative lignin synthesis. [Display omitted] • acid-saccharification treatment of sugarcane trash to improve lignin accessibility. • the higher purity (94.23 %) was ASac-lignin. • ASac-lignin has good chemical traits, low thermal stability, and molecular weight. • nanolignin preparation using THF: Ethanol (1:1) and dialysis process. • ASac-nanolignin has a spherical shape with a particle size below 100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YBCO openwork structures were 3D-printed as cuboids with 4.5 × 4.5 × 2 mm dimensions and various filling degrees. Initial pycnometric data showed a slight variation in specimen densities (∼6.153 g/cm3), proving the production process uniformity. The consistency of YBCO superconducting phase (Y-123) was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Microstructural and chemical homogeneity was proven by scanning electron microscopy with microprobe analysis. Transport (electrical and thermal) measurements accompanied by simulations of magnetic flux density at the produced structures revealed that they are heavily dependent of filling ratio and geometry. Additionally, this work proves that the 3D printing is an excellent method of fabricating high-quality superconducting structures of desired shapes accordingly to applicational demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize the high-brightness of yellow light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the yellow-emitting phosphor ceramics with high luminous efficiency (LE) are urgently explored. Based on the idea of spectrum regulation, the Lu 3 -x-y Gd y Al 5 O 12 : x Ce3+ (LuGdAG:Ce) phosphor ceramics were prepared via vacuum solid-state sintering. The effect of Gd3+ and Ce3+ content on the structure, luminescence and thermal properties of LuAG:Ce ceramics were investigated. The distortion ratio (D) of CeO 8 and bandgap were effectively modified via Gd3+ doping, resulting in massive red-shifting of Ce3+ emission (513→561 nm). The LEDs lighting encapsulated by LuGdAG:Ce ceramics changes from green to yellow. Importantly, the yellow LEDs with a LE up to 139.0 lm/W@180 W and a warm correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3620 K were achieved based ceramic Ce07Gd9. The LuGdAG:Ce phosphor ceramic has the best of luminescence performance in phosphor-converted yellow LEDs lighting so far, which is considered to be the highly promising color converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy ceramics have garnered significant attention in recent years owing to their exceptional properties and structural diversity. In this work, single-phase medium/high entropy ceramics, namely (Ca 0.2 Sr 0.4 Ba 0.4)(Zr 0.5 Ti 0.5)O 3 and (Ca 0.2 Sr 0.4 Ba 0.4)(Zr 0.1 Ti 0.9)O 3 , were successfully designed and prepared utilizing Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). A comprehensive investigation was conducted into the phase structure, microscopic morphology, dielectric properties, and thermal behavior of these ceramics. It was observed that all ceramics maintained a cubic perovskite structure (space group: Pm 3 ‾ m), and the introduction of multi-element doping rendered them more stable across a wide frequency and temperature range. Notably, (Ca 0.2 Sr 0.4 Ba 0.4)(Zr 0.5 Ti 0.5)O 3 exhibited remarkably low dielectric loss (0.0001 at 1 kHz) at room temperature, along with excellent dielectric temperature stability (25–400 °C). By reducing the zirconium concentration in (Ca 0.2 Sr 0.4 Ba 0.4)(Zr 0.1 Ti 0.9)O 3 , a slight decrease in dielectric temperature stability was observed (25–350 °C); however, it demonstrated lower thermal conductivity (0.41 W/(m·K), 1200 °C) and maintained good high-temperature stability. The discovery highlights the promising practicality of both ceramics for high-temperature dielectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borophosphosilicate glasses with varying sodium ion concentrations were investigated for their, structural, thermal, and electrical properties. All the obtained glasses were transparent except the glass with the highest sodium content, which exhibited translucency due to inhomogeneities. Increasing sodium content led to reduced boron and silicon content while maintaining a constant B/Si ratio, indicating progressive depolymerization of the glass network. Confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy showed homogeneous and granular structure for samples with lower sodium content, but higher sodium content resulted in visible agglomeration/nanocrystallization. X-ray diffractograms showed amorphous nature for most samples, with samples doped with the highest concentrations of Na 2 O showing several broad reflections suggesting nanoscale crystallinity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed shifts in dominant bands with increasing sodium content, indicating depolymerization of the borate network. An observed decrease in glass transition temperature and thermal stability with increasing sodium content was attributed to depolymerization and formation of non-bridging oxygens. Impedance spectroscopy revealed two relaxation processes associated with the transport of Na+ ions through two different regions. DC conductivity and activation energy predominantly increased with the sodium ion content at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum nitride (AlN), prized for its high thermal conductivity and electronic insulating properties, finds widespread use in electronic applications, particularly as a substrate material. However, its relatively low fracture toughness limits its application. In this study, to enhance both the thermal and mechanical properties of AlN ceramics, we thoroughly investigate the microstructure, thermal, and mechanical properties of self-reinforced AlN ceramics fabricated by spark plasma sintering, with self-reinforcement achieved through the integration of AlN whiskers within the AlN matrix. Unlike previous studies utilizing conventional pressureless sintering with limited sintering conditions, this work employs spark plasma sintering with a wide range of temperatures (1600–1900 °C) and holding times (10–30 min), providing a comprehensive understanding of the sintering behavior. Microstructural features, observed through optical and scanning electron microscopy, reveal distinct toughening mechanisms via crack deflection and branching, with a maximum 20% enhancement. The self-reinforced AlN ceramics exhibit remarkable improvements in thermal conductivity, reaching up to 150 W m−1 K−1, surpassing reported values for spark plasma-sintered AlN ceramics. Adding AlN whiskers enhances the thermal and mechanical properties of AlN simultaneously, particularly at 1800 °C for 10 min with controlled grain size and nicely integrated AlN whiskers. This work not only contributes valuable insights into the complex relationship between processing parameters, microstructure, and resulting thermal and mechanical properties but also highlights the enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of self-reinforced AlN ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the issue of carbon contamination during the smelting of specialty metals or alloys, utilizing graphite crucibles, has attracted considerable research attention, prompting the exploration of novel ceramic crucible materials. AlN ceramic, renowned for their exceptional high-temperature stability and resistance to corrosion, have emerged as promising candidates to mitigate this concern. Nonetheless, the limited mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance of AlN curtail its widespread application. In this study, Y 2 Zr 2 O 7 was introduced as an additive to enhance AlN's properties, and AlN-based composite ceramics were fabricated by employing pressureless sintering. The effects of Y 2 Zr 2 O 7 addition (3–10 wt%) on the mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance of the resulting composites were examined. The findings revealed that the incorporation of 5 wt% Y 2 Zr 2 O 7 (AlN-5YZO) led to the highest relative density and a refined grain structure, resulting in superior mechanical properties. Notably, the flexural strength, fracture toughness, and Vickers hardness of AlN-5YZO reached 322 MPa, 3.70 MPa m1/2, and 13.34 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of crack branching and crack deflection within the composite ceramics impeded crack propagation, effectively augmenting their thermal shock resistance. AlN-5YZO samples exhibited residual strength retention rates of 91.0 %, 84.2 %, and 76.7 % after 10, 20, and 50 thermal shocks between 1000 and 1600 °C, surpassing those of pure AlN. The findings of this study present promising avenues for advancing crucible materials tailored for high-temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal camouflage technology can effectively hide an object by lowering its infrared emissivity and reducing its surface temperature. So far, it has been a challenge to realize thermal camouflage at high-temperatures with a single material. Here, we report a Ti 3 AlC 2 MAX phase material that exhibits excellent thermal camouflage properties from room temperature to 500 °C, and maintains a low emissivity of 0.25 at 500 °C, which is difficult to achieve for most metals due to the rapid increase in emissivity caused by oxidation. The thermal camouflage mechanism of Ti 3 AlC 2 was analyzed on the basis of experimental results and first-principles calculations, providing a feasible approach to select other MAX phases (such as Ti 3 SiC 2 , Cr 2 AlC, and Ti 2 AlC) with attractive thermal camouflage performance. Ti 3 AlC 2 and other MAX phases are promising candidates for thermal camouflage applications due to their low emissivity, high-temperature stability, good oxidation resistance and ease of fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) system, a pivotal technology for advanced aviation engines and ground gas turbines, mitigates direct interaction between high-temperature gas and high-temperature alloy substrates. In this investigation, a series of high-entropy Eu 2 B 2 O 7 (where B = Y, Yb, Ce, Zr, Hf, Ta, and Nb) oxides were synthesized through solid-state reactions. By manipulating B-site cations and introducing substantial atomic size disparities, as well as mass and charge disorder, we synthesized a highly disordered high-entropy Eu 2 B 2 O 7 oxide. This oxide exhibits a disordered fluorite structure and commendable thermal insulation attributes. The observed thermal conductivity of Eu 2 (Y 0.2 Yb 0.2 Zr 0.2 Nb 0.2 Ta 0.2) 2 O 7 ranges from 0.94 to 1.13 W·m–1·K–1, which can be ascribed to amplified lattice anharmonicity and disorder causing supplementary phonon scattering. In addition, It also shows the thermal expansion coefficient of 10.52 × 10−6 K−1 and high-temperature stability. These results denote that the high-entropy Eu 2 B 2 O 7 oxide may become a prospective contender for thermal barrier coatings and thermal insulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Ta doping on the thermal and electrical properties of SnO 2 varistors were researched. The results showed that the thermal conductivity is 2.01 WK−1m−1, the nonlinearity coefficient is 43, and the leakage current density is 0.7 μA/cm2 when the Ta doping level reaches 0.2 mol%. According to the measurement results of the EPR, SEM/EDS, and XRD, the Ta dopant can reduce the oxygen vacancy concentration, which was generated during the sintering. The decline of the oxygen vacancy concentration reduces the phonon scattering, then the thermal conductivity of the varistors is improved. On the other hand, the reduction of the oxygen vacancy concentration elevates the barrier height, so the nonlinearity coefficient is improved and the leakage current density is declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present work, high entropy (MoTaTiVW)C X ceramics with different carbon stoichiometries (X = 3–6) were produced using spark plasma sintering. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal properties of (MoTaTiVW)C X with different carbon stoichiometries were studied. At X = 3, the carbon deficiency resulted in a multiphase structure of the sample, (MoTaTiVW)C 3 with a Mo-rich carbide phase. At X = 3.5, the single-phase rock salt structure was formed despite carbon vacancies of up to 30 %. The relative density of (MoTaTiVW)C X gradually decreases as the carbon stoichiometry increases from X = 3 to X = 6. The concentration of carbon vacancies affects the sintering activation energy, which can enhance mass transfer and promote the densification process. The Vickers hardness of (MoTaTiVW)C X shows an overall decreasing trend as the carbon stoichiometry increases from X = 3.5 to X = 6, peaking at 20.4 ± 0.4 GPa at X = 3.5. The fracture toughness increases and then decreases, peaking at 4.4 ± 0.2 MPa m1/2 at X = 4. The thermal conductivity of (MoTaTiVW)C X gradually increases, then decreases and finally increases with the increase of carbon stoichiometry. At room temperature, the maximum value of thermal conductivity is 6.35 ± 0.29 W/m·K of (MoTaTiVW)C 5 and the minimum value is 5.32 ± 0.35 W/m·K of (MoTaTiVW)C 5.5. At 1000 °C, the thermal conductivity of (MoTaTiVW)C X ranges from 15.94 ± 0.37 W/m·K to 19.56 ± 0.45 W/m·K. As the concentration of carbon vacancies decreases, the decrease in point defect concentration will reduce the degree of lattice distortion, thereby reducing phonon scattering and affecting thermal conductivity. The study suggests that carbon stoichiometry can be used to adjust the microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal properties of high entropy carbide ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring new applications of negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials is a recent research hotspot. In this work, the IV A element Sn was used to tailor the thermal expansion and dielectric properties of NTE material ZrMgMo 3 O 12 , and the samples Zr 1–x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) can be used in the field of high-frequency dielectric ceramics. Both the substitution amount of Sn and sintering temperature have a certain effect on the properties of Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) can be adjusted between near zero thermal expansion (ZTE) (−0.24 × 10−6/K−1) and NTE (−8.16 × 10−6/K−1) and become larger toward negative as the amount of Sn increased under the same sintering temperature. The dielectric constants of Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 can be adjusted in the range of 130∼155, which are about 25 times than ZrMgMo 3 O 12. The dissipation factors of Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 were adjustable between 4.37 × 10−4 and 5.54 × 10−4, meeting the application requirements of high-frequency dielectric ceramics. This research shows that Sn can adjust the thermal expansion properties and significantly improves the dielectric properties of ZrMgMo 3 O 12 , so that Zr 1-x Sn x MgMo 3 O 12 materials have high value in the field of high-frequency dielectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-principles computations are used to investigate the structural, stability, mechanical, optical, thermal, and electronic characteristics of perovskite material. A novel RbBa 2 Ti 3 O 10 perovskite material is studied by using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) suggested by Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE) approach in the CASTEP code. According to findings, the compound structure is tetragonal in nature with a space group of 123 (p4/mmm), a lattice parameter, and a volume. RbBa 2 Ti 3 O 10 exhibits indirect bandgap semiconductor behavior, according to its electronic characteristics. The Kramer-Kroning (KK) relations are used for determining optical properties to observe light-matter interaction. Perovskites' mechanical attributes, including their ductility, compressibility, elastic anisotropy, modulus, and mechanical index, were assessed and assigned. The thermal properties of the compound are examined, including its density, minimum thermal conductivity, melting temperature, and Debye temperature. Our investigation shows that RbBa 2 Ti 3 O 10 has potential use in photocatalytic applications. • The compound structure is tetragonal with a space group of 123 (p4/mmm). • RbBa 2 Ti 3 O 10 exhibits indirect bandgap (1.66 eV) semiconductor behavior. • Perovskites' mechanical attributes, like compressibility, anisotropy, modulus, and mechanical index, were assessed. • The thermal properties are examined, including its minimum thermal conductivity, melting temperature, and Debye temperature. • RbBa 2 Ti 3 O 10 has potential use in photocatalytic applications to separate water for H 2 and O 2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. The aim of this study was to determine the individual and combined effects of supplementing fat with whole-cracked rapeseed (FAT), nitrate (NITRATE), and 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) on compositional and functional properties of milk fat. An 8 × 8 incomplete Latin square design was conducted with 48 lactating Danish Holstein cows over 6 periods of 21 d each. Eight diets were 2 × 2 × 2 factorially arranged: FAT (30 or 63 g crude fat/kg DM), NITRATE (0 or 10 g nitrate/kg DM), and 3-NOP (0 or 80 mg 3-NOP/kg DM), and cows were fed ad libitum. Milk samples were analyzed for general composition, fatty acids (FA) and thermal properties of milk fat. Milk fat content was decreased by supplementing fat but increased by 3-NOP. The changes in FA composition were mainly driven by the FAT × 3-NOP interaction. Fat supplementation shifted milk FA composition toward a lower content of SFA and greater contents of MUFA and PUFA, whereas these effects became smaller in combination with 3-NOP. However, 3-NOP had no effects on SFA, MUFA, or PUFA in low-fat diets. Fat supplementation lowered solid-fat content in milk fat because of the decreased SFA content. The onset crystallization temperature of milk fat was decreased by 3-NOP when supplemented in low-fat diets. According to the FAT × 3-NOP interaction, supplementation of fat without 3-NOP shifted the peak temperature of the low-melting fraction of milk fat toward low temperature as a result of a decreased proportion of C16:0 and increased proportions of C18:1 cis -9, C18:1 trans -11, C18:2 cis -9, and CLA cis -9, trans -11. In conclusion, no additive effects were observed among FAT, NITRATE, and 3-NOP on chemical and thermal properties of milk fat, and fat supplementation largely changed milk FA composition, which in turn affected the thermal properties of milk fat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gadolinium Zirconate nanoparticles were synthesized by Co-precipitation and Ball milling techniques. In this study, the effect of the synthesis technique and calcination temperature on the structural, morphological and thermal properties were investigated. The thermal properties examined showed that the GZ nanoparticles obtained from CP technique suffered two-fold weight loss as compared to BM technique. The SEM results revealed the formation of agglomerated particles. However, TEM results confirms the formation of nanoparticles of 10.5 nm and 8 nm by BM and CP techniques respectively. GZ particles obtained through CP technique showed better uniformity of particle size over BM technique. The functional groups of the nanoparticle were studied using FT-IR spectroscopy analysis. The XRD results confirm the formation of defect-fluorite structure and pyrochlore structure for the samples calcined at 1100 °C and 1400 °C (BM) respectively. The formation of the corresponding structures was further confirmed by Raman Spectroscopy. The thermal conductivity of the nanoparticle produced by ball milling and co-precipitation technique is almost same. As compared to NiCrAlY and uncoated substrate materials, the micro hardness of the GZ coatings has the maximum hardness of 594.6 HV, indicating the improved hardness behavior of TBC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cubic boron nitride (cBN) has been used as a tool material for several decades due to its high hardness and thermal stability. Various binders are commonly added to cBN to synthesise cBN composites for better cutting performance. However, most studies have only investigated properties such as hardness and bulk modulus, without comprehensively studying elastic properties through experiments. In this study, the sound velocities and elastic properties of cBN with AlN binder were determined by using the ultrasonic interferometry technique. The bulk and shear moduli with their pressure dependence were determined as B 0 = 351 (3) GPa, G 0 = 344 (3) GPa, B 0 ′ = 4.32 (4) and G 0 ′ = 1.74 (2) using the finite strain equation-of-state approaches. Elasticity-related thermal properties, such as Debye temperature, Grüneisen parameter, thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion were also estimated. The results show that the elastic properties of the cBN composite with vol. 8.8% AlN-binder are comparable to the pure cBN compact. Additionally, the thermal conductivity and coefficient of thermal expansion have little effect on cBN composite with AlN binder compared to pure cBN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the research for advanced materials suitable for high-temperature uses continues, the need for oxide ceramic micro-nanofibers with outstanding mechanical and thermal properties becomes increasingly important. By incorporating two types of magnesium sources, specifically Mg(CH 3 COO) 2 ·4H 2 O and MgCl 2 ·6H 2 O, into the precursor, a range of fibers made of magnesium silicate ceramics was produced through electrospinning. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis verified that the resulting multiple phases included MgO, MgSiO 3 , Mg 2 SiO 4 , and amorphous SiO 2 , with the phase composition being affected by the diffusion reaction of Mg ions. The fibers produced using the dual-precursor method maintained a stable morphology with a uniform and compact structure after undergoing high-temperature treatments ranging from 1000 to 1200 °C. This study is the first to report the tensile strength of magnesium silicate fibrous membranes, which was found to be 1.54 ± 0.27 MPa and 1.21 ± 0.73 MPa after heat treatment at 800 °C and 1000 °C, respectively. Furthermore, these fibrous membranes demonstrated dependable thermal insulation properties within the testing range of 500–1000 °C, along with a low thermal conductivity at room temperature of 0.0301–0.0306 W m−1·K−1. Characterized by their impressive mechanical strength and high temperature stability, magnesium silicate ceramic micro-nanofibers show significant potential for various applications in the targeted field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concurrent enhancement of toughness, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability in polycrystalline diamond composites represents a formidable challenge. Here, a novel diamond-TiC composites (referred to as DTC) with high fracture toughness and conductivity were synthesized through a high-temperature and high-pressure reaction sintering process utilizing two precursors: diamond mixtures containing TiH 2 and Ti-coated diamonds. On the one hand, the inherent bonding and encasing of TiC onto the diamond matrix form a heterogeneous structure, providing high strength and excellent fracture toughness up to 11.6 MPa·m1/2. On the other hand, the established oxygen barrier and current pathway offer a thermal stability of 765 °C and high conductivity up to 837 S·m−1. Remarkably, this rare combination of mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties has been realized within a single material under relatively moderate sintering conditions, thus positioning diamond-TiC composites as a promising ceramic for electrical applications in high-stress environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li 2 O–ZnO–B 2 O 3 -WO 3 (LZBW) sealing glasses for Si substrates were prepared and the effect of WO 3 on the structure, thermal properties, and sintering behaviour was investigated. As the WO 3 increases from 0 to 12 mol%, the glass transition temperature and softening temperature reach the lowest values of 448 °C and 479 °C, respectively, at which time the glass network has the lowest degree of polymerization. The thermal expansion coefficient increases from 6.959 × 10−6/°C to 8.476 × 10−6/°C with increasing WO 3 contents. It is verified that the introduction of WO 3 can effectively improve the conductivity. The sealing property of the glasses was evaluated by the wetting angle of the glasses after co-sintering with Si substrate for 10 min at 860 °C, and the 25Li 2 O-7ZnO-2.7Bi 2 O 3 -1.3P 2 O 5 -55B 2 O 3 -9WO 3 glass had the minimum wetting angle of 34.07°. The excellent thermal properties, conductivity, and wetting behaviour of the LZBW glasses make it a potential material as a binder material for positive silver pastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the behavior and properties of corundum and mullite ceramics at high temperatures and during very long exposures in a controlled atmosphere. The motivation of the work lies primarily in advanced applications in nuclear energy technology, specifically in the search for materials for helium-cooled reactors of the 4th generation. The studied ceramic samples Al63, Al70, Al76, Al96, Al100, where the number indicates the mass percentage of Al 2 O 3 , were exposed for 1000 h at a temperature of 900 °C in gaseous atmospheres of helium, nitrogen and air. The properties of the exposed and unexposed samples were evaluated by measuring the bending strength at room temperature (CMOR), hot modulus of rupture at high temperature (HMOR), and isothermal creep, BET method, and using electron microscopy. The color changes induced by the reducing atmosphere and temperature were also interpreted using a simple thermochemical model. The CMOR measurement results show that all ceramic samples do not significantly change their properties due to long-term exposure. The detected deviations in the exposed samples from the unexposed ones can be considered random caused by the inherent heterogeneous structure. A similar conclusion also applies in the case of the HMOR measurement results, except for the results for the Al63 sample, where the drop in the strength of the exposed samples by approx. 37 MPa (20 %) may be related with the highest proportion of polyvalent oxide admixtures of all studied ceramics, i.e. 1.01 wt % Fe 2 O 3 and 0.52 wt % TiO 2. The change in color indicates that the iron and titanium present are being reduced. However, none of the conducted experiments indicate that changes in the redox state associated with the formation of oxygen vacancies would significantly reduce strength at high temperatures or increase creep in mullite ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of rare-earth (RE) monosilicates can be regulated by solid solution engineering based on the mixture rule. The combination and number of RE principals are critical factors for better performances. In the present study, four single-phase equimolar multicomponent RE-monosilicate solid solutions including (Dy 1/3 Er 1/3 Yb 1/3) 2 SiO 5 , (Ho 1/3 Er 1/3 Yb 1/3) 2 SiO 5 , (Y 1/4 Er 1/4 Tm 1/4 Lu 1/4) 2 SiO 5 and (Dy 1/4 Er 1/4 Tm 1/4 Yb 1/4) 2 SiO 5 were synthesized by solid-state reaction and hot-pressing method. The microstructures, thermal and mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance to high-temperature water vapor were systematically investigated. Compared to the single-principal and ternary RE-monosilicates, the quaternary RE-monosilicates exhibited lower thermal conductivity of 1.32 Wm−1K−1 at 400 °C, matched thermal expansion coefficients (3.3 × 10−6/oC ∼ 5.8 × 10−6/oC from 200 °C to 1000 °C) with SiC, and much lower weight loss during water vapor corrosion. The results indicate that the increase of the RE element number can promote the grain growth, lower the thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient, and enhance corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, Mg–5Ni and Mg–15Ni alloys are prepared, and their (de)hydrogenation properties are investigated by thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). A new hydrogenation condition is developed to improve the hydrogen uptake properties of the Mg–Ni alloy. It is found that the hydrogen absorption and thermal desorption properties of both alloys are extremely sensitive to the presence of 3% O 2 in the hydrogenation environment. Although O₂ accelerates hydrogen absorption, it lowers the desorption temperature and reduces the hydrogen storage capacity of the Mg–Ni alloy by consuming Mg₂Ni if it is added in every cycle. The hydrogen storage capacity of Mg–Ni alloys can be significantly increased by adding oxygen only in the second cycle instead of in all cycles. In the early stages of hydrogenation, only two TDS peaks are observed, while in later cycles a new peak appears at higher temperatures. These peaks correspond to the decomposition of Mg₂NiH₄ (peak 1), MgH₂ (peak 2), and the release of hydrogen from the bulk material (peak 3). It is also evident that the Mg–15Ni sample has a better hydrogen storage capacity than the Mg–5Ni sample. • Studying (de-)hydrogenation properties of Mg–Ni alloys in presence of 3% O 2. • O 2 accelerates hydrogen absorption and lowers the hydrogen desorption temperature. • Adding 3% O 2 only in 2nd cycle improves hydrogen storage capacity of Mg–Ni alloys. • In early cycles, two TDS peaks are seen, while in later ones a new peak appears. • The Mg–15Ni sample has a better hydrogen storage capacity than Mg–5Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a notable scarcity of reference data on the thermal conductivity of orthohydrogen in both vapor and liquid phases within the open literature, compared to parahydrogen and normal hydrogen. An improved corresponding states principle (CSP) model is proposed to predict the thermal conductivity of orthohydrogen by employing an optimized shape factor, which is expressed as a correlation with respect to pressure and temperature from the triple point to 300 K and at pressures up to 20 MPa. Critical parameters, ideal state thermal properties, and eccentricity factor are involved in the calculation as input parameters. The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed CSP model is verified by using experimental data of parahydrogen and some theoretical data of orthohydrogen. The estimated uncertainty of the model against high-precision experimental data of parahydrogen is within ±2.82 %. When the model is applied to dilute gas orthohydrogen, the predictions exhibit a deviation of less than ±5 % compared to other methods found in the literature. In addition, a correlation for thermal conductivity of parahydrogen, presented as a single function of temperature, is also proposed along the vapor-liquid equilibrium at temperatures from the triple point to the critical point, with an uncertainty of ±3 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The aging process of leather was artificially accelerated. • Changes in secondary collagen structure was analyzed by deconvoluted FT-IR spectrum. • Thermal stability of vegetable-tanned leather was studied by TG/DTG. Leather artifacts, mainly composed of collagen and tanning agents, possess significant historical importance. However, external factors could lead to the aging of such artifacts during preservation. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the impact of various factors on leather aging. In order to know the effects of high temperature and humidity conditions on the changes of leather artifacts, the traditional vegetable tanning agents (chestnut, tara, quebracho, and mimosa) were used to tan the pickled sheepskins to prepare leather artifact model samples. The leather artifact model samples were aged for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 days at 80°C and 40–80 % relative humidity (RH). The changes in appearance, structure and thermal stability of the vegetable-tanned leather samples under the synergistic impact of temperature and RH were analyzed using total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), chromatography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal degradation of the samples before and after being tanned with vegetable tanning agents was analyzed using thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) analysis. Furthermore, the shrinkage temperature (Ts), tensile strength and elongation at break of the samples were investigated during different aging periods. The study aims to provide valuable insights into the stability of leather artifacts during long-term storage, as well as guidance for their restoration and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the thermal protection system of spacecraft, the bolts connecting the ceramic to the internal superalloy need to have low thermal conductivity and high strength. Two dense high entropy fluorite oxides (Zr 1/7 Hf 1/7 Ce 1/7 Y 2/7 La 2/7)O 2-δ (ZHCYL) and (Zr 1/8 Hf 1/8 Ce 1/8 Y 1/4 La 1/4 Pr 1/8)O 2-δ (ZHCYLP) were designed and synthesized by using the synergistic effect of plasma-assisted ball milling and spark plasma sintering(SPS). Through the synergistic effect of lattice distortion and oxygen vacancy guided by entropy regulation, ZHCYLP synthesized in this study has lower thermal conductivity(1.13 W·m−1·K−1), higher high temperature strength(192 MPa at 1000 °C) and high temperature phase stability up to 1600 °C than 8YSZ ceramics. The thermo-mechanical coupling finite element analysis results of high temperature bending test show that the variation trend of the maximum stress value of the sample is consistent with the experimental results. This shows that the mechanical and thermal properties of high entropy oxides can predict the variation trend of the maximum stress value in high temperature bending tests. It opens up a new way for designing and synthesizing high entropy oxide materials with low thermal conductivity and high strength which can be applied in the field of heat protection and load bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic aerogels are promising candidates for high-temperature thermal resistance and thermal insulation materials. However, their application can be restricted by their brittleness when exposed to harsh conditions. Herein, this study has developed a novel synthesis process based on a sol-gel method and carbothermal reduction-nitridation to produce a porous TiN composite aerogel from an organic/inorganic hybrid. The resulting TiN displays a polyhedral particle size of around 30–60 nm with nanoscale pores. In addition, the TiN aerogel demonstrates a high BET-specific surface area of 653.42 m2/g and a very low thermal conductivity of 0.046 W/(m·K). Furthermore, the TiN aerogel composite displays a good thermal difference with no shrinkage and cracks of the morphology during the butane blazing torch at 1300 °C for 10 min under air environment, demonstrating its excellent thermal insulation property and anti-oxidation characteristics. The gas-solid reaction mechanism of TiN aerogel based on the Gibbs free energy calculations is also proposed. [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]

An estimated 30 % (∼11 million metric tons/year) of copper slag is still landfilled globally. Fayalitic copper slags are well-characterized, and they can be recycled into multiple safe end-products. Conversely, the major type of copper slag produced in Europe is lead-rich and warrants a deep understanding of phases present in it, properties, adverse environmental implications, and potential recycling strategies. The objective of this study is to thoroughly investigate such industrial slags by XRF, XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, SEM-EDS, novel automated image analysis using Aphelion, hot stage microscopy (HSM) and assess prospects for their valorization. These industrial slags were found to contain 26.1–50.5 wt% PbO, 3.4–5.4 % As 2 O 5 (both hazardous solid wastes), 5.7–42 % CuO (present partly as Cu 2 O, an irritant), 3.2–18.2 % Fe 2 O 3 , 14–15.9 % SiO 2 and oxides of chromium, cobalt (both carcinogenic), zinc and nickel (both toxic to aquatic life). The limitation of Rietveld XRD for glass quantification was overcome by newly-developed automated SEM-image processing which revealed that all three slags consisted of a lead silicate glass (36.3–65.8 vol%). Strikingly, rarely published arsenic- and lead-based compounds like (Ca,Pb) 4 As 2 O 9-x , (Ca,Cu) 2 PbO 4-x and Pb 3 Ca 2 Si 3 O 11 were found when slag's PbO/CuO was 0.6, and Ca 3 As 2 O 8 -Pb 2 SiO 4 formed when PbO/CuO equaled 9. The challenge of toxicity and landfilling can be overcome as these slags have high potential to be used for recovery of copper, cobalt, and lead. Radioactive waste immobilization glasses, gamma-ray shielding concrete and glass-ceramic consumer products may also be prepared from them. HSM revealed that a higher PbO/CuO ratio results in lower melting point and smaller melt contact angle indicating such slag can be useful for manufacturing recycled ceramics but corrosive towards refractories in copper converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrochlore oxide La 2 Hf 2 O 7 (LHO) has attracted extensive attention in thermal management applications. Accurate determination and comprehensive understanding of thermal conductivity (κ) stand as imperative prerequisites for the effective utilization and manipulation of LHO in various applications. In this study, with the assistance of machine learning interatomic potential, we investigate the microscopic mechanisms of phonon thermal transport in LHO crystals. Our findings show that the thermal transport in LHO defies a precise explication through the conventional framework of the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) due to the emergence of diffusive phonon modes, engendered by strong anharmonicity. Using the state-of-the-art dual-phonon model incorporating both propagating and diffusive modes, we successfully reproduce the experimentally measured results in both magnitude and temperature dependence. It is also shown that the thermal conduction in LHO crystals is dominated by the propagating modes at low temperatures while by the diffusive modes at high temperatures, which synergistically lead to a low κ for LHO crystals. The novel insights into phonon thermal transport provide a stepping stone for regulating the thermal transport properties of LHO crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pr doped La 2 Zr 2 O 7 (LPZ) TBCs have been deposited by electron beam physical vapor deposition. This work concentrates on the thermophysical properties and microstructure evolution of LPZ/YSZ duplex TBCs before and after thermal cyclic so as to probe into the merit and the application feasibility. The thermal expansion, thermal conductivity and phase structure have been measured and analyzed in comparison to other classical TBCs materials. Typical feathery microstructure and intra-columnar gaps did not provide desired thermal cyclic counts for LPZ/YSZ TBCs. Two principal categories of degradation mechanism limited the cyclic lifetime. The first principal degradation mode is the pulverization of LPZ after thermal cyclic due to the Pr rare earth elements modification in lanthanum Zirconates. Pr instability created the pulverization degradation mode instead of spalling. The second degradation mode is the cracks extension paralleled to interface inside TGO due to the brittle spinel generated by excessive oxidation. This study of thermal properties and degradation mechanism might offer thought and inspiration for other advanced TBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystallization thermal stability plays an essential role in affecting thermal stress of glass-ceramic sealant for long-term planar-type solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) to prevent fuel leakage during operation. Due to the lack of systematic research on regulating the stable performance of glass-based sealant with the working time at operation temperature, herein, the effect of MgO on crystallization kinetics, phase stability, and thermal and mechanical properties of MgO–BaO–CaO–Al 2 O 3 –B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 (MBCABS) glass-ceramic has been firstly analyzed at heat-treatment of 750 °C with working time of 1∼1000h in this work. Subsequently, the relationship evolution of crystallization thermal stability-coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) match-thermal stress was established by Finite Element Method (FEM). The main reasons for the decrease of CTE of MBCABS glass-ceramics with low-content MgO are the precipitation of hexagonal BaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 phase and the transformation of hexagonal BaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 to low-CTE monoclinic BaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 phase, bring about that the Von Mises thermal stress of sealant itself and interface having tripled at 1000h (more than 200 MPa) according to FEM simulation results. The thermal stable and high-CTE BaMgSiO 4 , Ba 8 Mg 16 Si 16 O 56 , and BaCa 2 Mg(SiO 4) 2 phases crystallized in MBCABS glass-ceramics with high-content MgO, therefore the maximum stress at all time parameters was below 100 MPa for 1∼1000h. This study was useful for identifying the optimal phase option and CTE matching of glass-based sealant for efficient and stable long-term operation of solid oxide fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordierite-mullite composite ceramics were prepared by solid-state method using Panzhihua low-grade Ti-rich clay, talc, and alumina. Influences of cordierite/mullite ratio, sintering temperature, and the chemical composition of clay on the phase composition, microstructure, physical properties, and thermal properties were investigated in detail. The results showed that the impurity oxides inside the Ti-rich clay had a great ability of forming liquid. Above 1300 °C, the reaction between TiO 2 of the clay and Al 2 O 3 produced stable Al 2 TiO 5 , which was conducive to decreasing the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). At 1300–1350 °C, the secondary mullitization caused the volumetric expansion, decreasing the bending strength and increasing the CTE. The optimum ratio of cordierite to mullite ranged from 90:10 to 80:20, and the sample fired at 1400 °C exhibited the lowest water absorption and porosity (0.64 % and 1.56 %, respectively), optimal bulk density, and bending strength (2.59 g cm−3 and 87.79 MPa), as well as better CTE, thermal conductivity, and thermal storage density (2.91 × 10−6 °C−1, 4.11 W/(m⋅K) (30 °C), and 1181 kJ kg−1, respectively). Compared with the reported values of cordierite-based thermal storage ceramics prepared by using the high-grade clay or minerals, the obtained samples showed the advantages such as lower costs for raw materials, higher bending strength, higher thermal conductivity (1.63–2 times higher), low CTE, and high thermal storage density. This study demonstrated that the low-grade Ti/Fe-rich clay has excellent cost-effective potential for the preparation of thermal storage ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the domain of personal thermal protection, there is a growing demand for lightweight and efficient ceramic thermal insulation materials. However, conventional ceramic membranes face challenges such as brittleness, structural collapse, and pulverization, hindering their practical application. To address this issue, aluminum hydroxide-enhanced silica-zirconia ceramic membranes (SZ@ANFMs) have been successfully fabricated using electrospinning followed by subsequent calcination processes, and their properties have been comprehensively evaluated. The results demonstrate that SZ@ANFMs exhibit outstanding high-temperature resistance under an alcohol lamp, along with an extremely low thermal conductivity (only 0.041 W/m·K), excellent tensile strength (2.3 MPa), and flexible characteristics. This makes them highly promising in the domain of personal thermal protection. The study builds upon existing research in lightweight and efficient thermal insulation materials, offering improvements and robust support for the further development of personal thermal protection technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research article demonstrates the dispersion of boehmite (BHM) nanoparticles into sericin (SER) from silk industry waste with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to enhance the optical, mechanical, thermal and electrical characteristics of PVA/SER blend nanocomposites prepared by a simple green synthesis. Techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out for the characterization of the prepared composites. XRD revealed the increased crystallinity of the polymer blend by the reinforcement of BHM. The existence of intermolecular interactions in the blend composite was confirmed by FTIR and UV spectroscopy. The optical bandgap energy of the biopolymer blend decreases with the inclusion of BHM. The SEM and HR-TEM confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of BHM in the blend at 5 wt% loading. The glass transition temperature and thermal stability of the blend nanocomposites were significantly improved by the inclusion of BHM was deduced from DSC and TGA. The dielectric constant and AC conductivity were remarkably increased with the reinforcement of nanoparticles. The activation energy obtained from AC conductivity decreased with temperature. The mechanical properties of the blend nanocomposites (hardness, tensile strength and Young's modulus) were greatly increased in presence of BHM. The 5 wt% sample has the highest tensile strength, Young's modulus, dielectric constant, AC conductivity and optical properties, allowing it to be used to make optoelectronic devices with better charge-storing capacity and flexible-type electrochemical gadgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, composite phase change materials (CPCMs) comprising hexadecylamine (HDA) (C 16 H 35 N), disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate (DHPD) (Na 2 HPO 4 ·12H 2 O), and expanded graphite (EG) were prepared using the demulsification method. These CPCMs exhibit high latent heat and stable thermal properties. This approach effectively mitigates the issues of substantial supercooling and poor thermal conductivity commonly associated with DHPD and HDA. Additionally, the inclusion of EG imparts superior morphological stability to the CPCMs. The HDA/DHPD/EG CPCMs demonstrated robust thermal and morphological stability at temperatures below 100 °C. Their latent heat reached up to 221 J/g and remained stable at this value even after 50 cold-heat cycles, thereby indicating excellent cycling stability. When EG was incorporated at 2 wt%, the thermal conductivity of the HDA/DHPD/EG CPCMs increased to 0.751 W/(m·K), indicating that the three-dimensional network structure of EG facilitates heat conduction and offers exceptional photothermal conversion capabilities, with a photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 97.1 %. The aforementioned results highlight the promising potential of the prepared CPCMs for applications in low-temperature waste heat recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the challenges facing our current and future generations is the effective management of energy and its acquisition through more sustainable means. One solution is using materials capable of generating energy from temperature differences. Construction materials could be the answer, as they are already integrated into structures and have good thermoelectric properties. Geopolymers, emerge as a promising candidate due to their enhanced sustainability compared to alternative materials. Our research explored the use of geopolymers for electricity generation from heat. To minimize the usage of kaolin, we incorporated 50 % of two mining residues obtained from old mines located in Portugal. This approach optimizes the utilization of mineral resources and mitigates the environmental impact. Various methods were used to characterize this material, such as X-ray diffraction, simple compressive strength tests and evaluation of thermoelectric properties, such as the Seebeck coefficient and figure of merit. The geopolymers tested exhibit semiconductor characteristics, demonstrating poor heat conduction due to their low thermal conductivity. Regarding thermoelectric properties, these materials display N-type behavior, with a Seebeck Coefficient between −643 μV/°C and −2760 μV/°C. These findings underscore the advantages of utilizing this sustainable material for the widespread implementation of energy management in buildings on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]