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Recently, the challenges pertaining to the recycling of metal-based electrode materials and the resulting environmental pollution have impeded the advancement of battery technology. Consequently, biomass-derived carbon materials, distinguished by their eco-friendliness and consistent performance, stand as a pivotal solution to this predicament. Researchers have made significant strides in the integration of porous carbon materials derived from biomass into battery systems. Nevertheless, these materials face issues such as limited efficiency, modest yields, and a complex fabrication process. This paper endeavors to summarize the recent advancements in the utilization of biomass-derived carbon materials within the realm of batteries, offering a comprehensive examination of their battery performance from three distinct perspectives: synthesis, structure, and application. We posit that composite materials composed of biomass-derived carbon align with the trajectory of future development and present extensive potential for application. Ultimately, we will expound upon our profound outlook regarding the furtherance of biomass-derived carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last several decades, textile-reinforced composites have emerged as a unique class of materials offering intricate features, reduced fabrication costs, introduced multiaxial reinforcement, and enhanced damaged tolerance. Despite these benefits, textile-reinforced composites face challenges as predicting their performance often relies on heuristics and past experiences without gaining insights into the underlying structure of the textile material and its constituents. This tutorial-based mini-review aims to delve into the fundamentals of textile architecture in the context of textile-reinforced composites and provide an overview of their significant physical and structural features that influence the performance characteristics of textile-reinforced composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthoses and prostheses were Chosen and laminated based on their high Yield, ultimate stresses, bending stresses, and fatigue limit. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was utilized to find the best values for two parameters reinforcement perlon fiber and percent of Titanium Nanoparticle coupled with the matrix resin during optimization. The response surface methodology combined the expertise of mathematicians and statisticians to construct and analyze experimental models. Using this method, we identified 13 different lamination samples comprising a wide range of perlon number and Ti nano Wt% in their Perlon layer composition. All lamination materials defined by RSM methods and produced by a vacuum system were subjected to a battery of tests, with fatigue tests performed on the ideal laminating material in contrast to laminations created in the first study (Tensile test, Bending test, and Fatigue tests according to the ASTM D638 and D790 respectively). In comparison to the other 12 laminations tested using Design Expert version 10.0.2, the lamination with ten perlon layers and 0.75 percent Ti nano proved to be the strongest overall in terms of Yield, ultimate, and bending loads. This study used composite materials and titanium nanoparticles to characterize and fabricate ankle foot orthoses. Strength in bending should amount to about 70 MPa, around 85 MPa in tensile tension. Two empirical quadratic equations for the models of peak bending strength and maximum tensile stress with 95% confidence were created using the response surface approach and analysis of variance within the design of experiments software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a transparent nanostructured ceramic magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) was fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) from commercial spinel nano-powders at different temperatures (1300, 1350 and 1400 °C). The sintered samples were thoroughly examined to assess their microstructural, optical, and mechanical properties. Various techniques such as SEM, AFM, spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere, instrumented Vickers indenter, Pin-on-Disk tribometer, scratch tester, and sandblasting device were employed to characterize the sintered samples. The results indicated the significant impact of the sintering temperature on the properties of the spinel samples. Particularly, the samples sintered at T = 1350 °C exhibited the highest Real In-line Transmission (RIT = 72% at 550 nm and 80% at 1000 nm). These samples demonstrated the highest hardness value (HV = 16.7 GPa) compared to those sintered at 1300 °C (HV = 15.6 GPa) and 1400 °C (HV = 15.1 GPa). The measured fracture toughness of the sintered samples increased substantially with increasing sintering temperature. Similarly, the tribological study revealed that the friction coefficient of the sintered spinel samples increased with the sintering temperature, and the spinel sintered at 1350 °C exhibited the lowest wear rate. Additionally, sandblasting and scratch tests confirmed the significant influence of the sintering temperature on the mechanical properties of the fabricated spinels. Overall, the spinel sintered at 1350 °C presented the best compromise in terms of all the evaluated properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) are one of the strongest contenders for the application that demands excellent mechanical and physical properties. Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites (Al MMCs) are reinforced materials with improved mechanical and physical properties as compared to the base material. Composite material made through the stir casting process possesses higher elastic modulus, wear resistance, strength, and fatigue resistance. In the present research work, LM30 alloy is chosen as a matrix material and is reinforced with Zircon Dioxide (ZrO2), Rice Husk Ash (RHA), and Tungsten Carbide (W.C.). A stir casting setup is used to fabricate the three different composites. Composite A, Composite B, and Composite C have the composition of (LM30/5%WC/5%ZrO2/10%RSH), (LM30/10%WC/5%ZrO2/5RSH), (LM30/5%WC/10%ZrO2-/5% RHA), respectively. Further, mechanical testing, which includes tensile, compressive, hardness, and Charpy impact tests, has been conducted. It has been found that Composite B possesses the highest hardness, maximum tensile, and compressive strength among all three composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) as a disruptive technique has offered great potential to design and fabricate many metallic components for aerospace, medical, nuclear, and energy applications where parts have complex geometry. However, a limited number of materials suitable for the AM process is one of the shortcomings of this technique, in particular laser AM of copper (Cu) is challenging due to its high thermal conductivity and optical reflectivity, which requires higher heat input to melt powders. Fabrication of composites using AM is also very challenging and not easily achievable using the current powder bed technologies. Here, the feasibility to fabricate pure copper and copper-carbon nanotube (Cu-CNT) composites was investigated using laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (LPBF-AM), and 10 × 10 × 10 mm3 cubes of Cu and Cu-CNTs were made by applying a Design of Experiment (DoE) varying three parameters: laser power, laser speed, and hatch spacing at three levels. For both Cu and Cu-CNT samples, relative density above 90% and 80% were achieved, respectively. Density measurement was carried out three times for each sample, and the error was found to be less than 0.1%. Roughness measurement was performed on a 5 mm length of the sample to obtain statistically significant results. As-built Cu showed average surface roughness (Ra) below 20 µm; however, the surface of AM Cu-CNT samples showed roughness values as large as 1 mm. Due to its porous structure, the as-built Cu showed thermal conductivity of ~108 W/m·K and electrical conductivity of ~20% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard) at room temperature, ~70% and ~80% lower than those of conventionally fabricated bulk Cu. Thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity were ~85 W/m·K and ~10% IACS for as-built Cu-CNT composites at room temperature. As-built Cu-CNTs showed higher thermal conductivity as compared to as-built Cu at a temperature range from 373 K to 873 K. Because of their large surface area, light weight, and large energy absorbing behavior, porous Cu and Cu-CNT materials can be used in electrodes, catalysts and their carriers, capacitors, heat exchangers, and heat and impact absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum matrix cast composites (AMCCs) are engaged materials for the fabrication of accountable and especially acute pieces utilized in the high-tech scope of industry such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, etc. In the present study, hybrid aluminum base composite reinforced with in-situ produced Mg2Si and Al3Ni particles were fabricated successfully in casting moods, and the structural features of inborn reinforcing compounds was evaluated in different thermal situations of solidification. For this issue, the composite microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscope (OM). In addition, the mechanical properties were evaluated by hardness test. According to the results, increasing in the cooling rate during solidification leads to the reduction of mediate size of the Mg2Si initially crystals, enhancement of their dispensation uniformity and clear increasing of their final amount; meanwhile, the average size of Al3Ni particles decreases significantly but their content is almost the same for different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave-permeable materials with certain metallic film patterns are of importance for electromagnetic wave transportation. Laser processing showed obvious advantages when fabricating such materials. The article studied the etching effects of key laser parameters on Al-coated composite materials. It is found that (1) a balance of etching quality and efficiency could be obtained when the operating laser energy density is about five to eight times that of the ablation threshold; (2) the effects of the laser focal spot size and the pulse overlap are interrelated to decide machining precision; and (3) the laser scanning trajectory affects the appearance of the etched surface, possibly due to the fiber bundle braided direction. The findings could benefit similar wave-permeable materials laser processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The areas of application of natural fibres have gained popularity in recent times due to their attractive advantages when compared with other materials of engineering. These advantages include lightness, cost-effectiveness, and ease of processing, ecological friendliness, and durability. Previously, farmers only harvest Musa spp. fruits for their food values and packaging purposes. Several research works have been undertaken which accentuate the applications of the assumed waste portions of Musa spp. (banana and plantain) specifically Musa spp. fibre as a reinforcement material in composite manufacture. As a material for reinforcement in composites, the characterization, treatment, and fabrication techniques; elemental, chemical, and mechanical properties of Musa spp. fibre have been analysed. The mechanical properties of banana fibre reinforcement in polyester, epoxy, cement, and plastics composites were evaluated with those of other biodegradable fibres to explicate their relationships. Short conclusion: This review aims to explore the current state of knowledge on the interaction of Musa spp. fibre in composite manufacture, to aid intending researchers with ample knowledge on the choice of material in bio-based composite design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/Cu superhydrophobic composite material is fabricated by wet etching, electroless plating, and polymer casting. The surface topography of the material emerges from hierarchical micro/nanoscale structures of etched aluminum, which are rigorously copied by plated copper. The resulting material is superhydrophobic (contact angle > 170°, sliding angle < 7° with 7 µL droplets), electrically conductive, elastic and wear resistant. The mechanical durability of both the superhydrophobicity and the metallic conductivity are the key advantages of this material. The material is robust against mechanical abrasion (1000 cycles): the contact angles were only marginally lowered, the sliding angles remained below 10°, and the material retained its superhydrophobicity. The resistivity varied from 0.7 × 10–5 Ωm (virgin) to 5 × 10–5 Ωm (1000 abrasion cycles) and 30 × 10–5 Ωm (3000 abrasion cycles). The material also underwent 10,000 cycles of stretching and bending, which led to only minor changes in superhydrophobicity and the resistivity remained below 90 × 10–5 Ωm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid manufacturing process for the fabrication of architected metal-ceramic and metal-metal interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) is elaborated and employed to assess the mechanical performance of novel, advanced composite materials. In particular, aluminum-based co-continuous composites, reinforced with triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) steel and ceramic (zirconia) phases are engineered, combining 3D-printing and investment casting techniques. The hybrid process results in excellent wettability between the ceramic-Al and steel-Al phases, characterized through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and micro-CT scanning analysis. The arising IPCs yield mechanical properties that utterly differ from the performance of the base ceramic or steel TPMS reinforcement topologies, with the ceramic-Al composites to furnish a highly ductile response and steel-Al IPCs a remarkable post-elastic stiffening performance. Ceramic-based IPCs yield a specific energy absorption (SEA) that is more than 400 times higher than the one of single-phase ceramic metamaterials, while steel-based IPCs allow for SEA values in the order of 50 J/g, values which rank among the highest ever reported for architected IPCs. A broader Ashby-type classification is provided, while the efficiency of the IPC plastification process is associated with the obtained SEA values. Moreover, experimental results are complemented by finite element analysis insights in the effect of the interpenetrating phase design on the inner stresses developed. The hybrid manufacturing process and the co-continuous composites investigated open novel pathways in the engineering of next-generation multifunctional architected IPCs for base material combinations beyond the ones here considered. [Display omitted] • A hybrid-casting, interpenetrating phase composites manufacturing method is elaborated. • Novel, TPMS-based, ceramic-aluminum and steel-aluminum IPCs are engineered. • Their inner co-continuous composition and mechanical performance are assessed. • A novel effective material performance space is revealed and comparatively classified. • Exceptional specific energy absorptions and crushing force efficiencies are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, thin film AlGaInP LED chips with a 50 μm thick composite metal substrate (Copper-Invar-Copper; CIC) were obtained by the wet etching process. The pattern of the substrate was done by the backside of the AlGaInP LED/CIC. There was no delamination or cracking phenomenon of the LED epilayer which often occurs by laser or mechanical dicing. The chip area was 1140 μm × 1140 μm and the channel length was 360 μm. The structure of the CIC substrate was a sandwich structure and consisted of Cu as the top and bottom layers, with a thickness of 10 μm, respectively. The middle layer was Invar with a 30% to 70% ratio of Ni and Fe and a total thickness of 30 μm. The chip pattern was successfully obtained by the wet etching process. Concerning the device performance after etching, high-performance LED/CIC chips were obtained. They had a low leakage current, high output power and a low red shift phenomenon as operated at a high injected current. After the development and fabrication of the copper-based composite substrate for N-side up thin-film AlGaInP LED/CIC chips could be diced by wet etching. The superiority of wet etching process for the AlGaInP LED/CIC chips is over that of chips obtained by mechanical or laser dicing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) enables the fabrication of three-dimensional structures with intricate cellular architectures where the material is selectively dispensed through a nozzle or orifice in a layer-by-layer fashion at the macro-, meso-, and micro-scale. Polymers and their composites are one of the most widely used materials and are of great interest in the field of AM due to their vast potential for various applications, especially for the medical, military, aerospace, and automotive industries. Because architected polymer-based structures impart remarkably improved material properties such as low density and high mechanical performance compared to their bulk counterparts, this review focuses particularly on the development of such objects by extrusion-based AM intended for structural applications. This review introduces the extrusion-based AM techniques followed by a discussion on the wide variety of materials used for extrusion printing, various architected structures, and their mechanical properties. Notable advances in newly developed polymer and composite materials and their potential applications are summarized. Finally, perspectives and insights into future research of extrusion-based AM on developing high-performance ultra-light materials using polymers and their composite materials are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are considered as promising electrochemical energy storage systems due to their efficiency, flexibility and scalability to meet our needs in renewable energy applications. Unfortunately, the low electrochemical performance of the available carbon-based electrodes hinders their commercial viability. Herein, novel free-standing electrospun nanofibrous carbon-loaded composites with textile-like characteristics have been constructed and employed as efficient electrodes for VRFBs. In this work, polyacrylonitrile-based electrospun nanofibers loaded with different types of carbon black (CB) were electrospun providing a robust free-standing network. Incorporation of CBs (14% and 50% weight ratio) resulted in fibers with rough surface and increased mean diameter. It provided higher BET surface area of 83.8 m2 g−1 for as-spun and 356.7 m2 g−1 for carbonized fibers compared to the commercial carbon felt (0.6 m2 g−1). These loaded CB-fibers also had better thermal stability and showed higher electrochemical activity for VRFBs than a commercial felt electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aircraft's constant operation in tough conditions necessitates the need for structural components of high strength yet low weight. Composite materials are being used as an alternative to conventional aluminum alloys because of their competitive strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. In this paper, the detailed design procedure of a light-aircraft composite material fuselage tooling in three dimensions is shown. In its operation, the layup tools provide a surface for the composite part which is the correct shape of the part and is stable through the cure cycle, and also providing a means of indexing the part for the next manufacturing operation. This aims to achieve the desired position accuracy and improve the efficiency of assembly procedures. All the parts are designed and measured using CATIA Version 5 software. The fuselage modeled here is a section of Beechcraft King Air 250. At the time of writing, the manufacturing process for the fabrication of this fuselage is entirely different. This design should be viewed as an alternative process as it would cut down weight and costs while improving safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of fabrication factors on the maximum buckling strength of composite lattice cylinders using experimental–statistical method are investigated. Composite lattice cylinders are fabricated using a silicone rubber mandrel, an automatic filament winding machine and autoclave. Design of experiments has been done using the Taguchi method and the orthogonal array L9 is used. The effects of four fabrication factors including "fiber tension", "winding speed", "cure cycle", and "type of fiber" (Aramid, Glass, Carbon) are considered, separately, on the two response variables including the "specific maximum carried load" (SMCL) and the "compressive efficiency" (CE) of the structure. The analysis of the test results is done by analysis of variance. The results indicate that the factors "type of fiber" and "fiber tension" have predominant effects on the SMCL response variable, respectively, and the effects of the two factors "winding speed" and "cure cycle" are not significant. Also, the factors "type of fiber", "fiber tension", and "winding speed" are more effective factors on the CE response variable, respectively, and the effect of the factor "cure cycle" is insignificant. In this research, the optimization of the fabrication factors is carried out for the response variable CE. For validation purpose, the result from the buckling test of the optimum fabricated sample is checked to be fallen within the estimated range predicted using the Taguchi method. After optimization of the fabrication factors, it is observed that the buckling strength of the composite lattice cylinder made of Glass/Epoxy is possible to be increased up to 144%. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1850–1861, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A "core–shell" structure by physical coating was applied to NTC ceramics for adjusting the resistance value and it almost does not change the thermal constant B. The yttrium stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with high ρ was chosen as the core and the La0.8Ba0.2CrO3 with low ρ and low B was chosen as the shell for the La0.8Ba0.2CrO3–YSZ NTC ceramics with "core–shell" structures. The "core–shell" NTC ceramics were successfully fabricated by classical uniaxial pressing method. After sintering at 1550 °C for 4 h, the core and shell adhered very well without any cracking. The resistance value increased with the increase in the diameter of the core while without causing much change in the B value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the effect of carbon fibers (CFs), recycled polypropylene (PP) selvages, and glass fibers (GFs) on the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness and mechanical properties of composite polyester (PET)‐wrapped yarns and composite PET woven fabrics. The PET/PP‐, PET/PP/CF‐, and PET/PP/GF‐wrapped yarns are manufactured via a rotor twister with various rotary rate. A looming machine is used to fabricate the mentioned wrapped yarns into woven fabrics, and thus the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness and mechanical properties are examined. The results show that various rotary rates influence the diameter and wrapped angle of the wrapped yarns, as well as their tensile strength and elongation. Woven fabrics that are composed of the wrapped yarns with a small diameter have a dense fabric structure, which in turn results in a decrease in air permeability and an increase in tensile strength. The woven fabrics are composed of PET yarns and CFs, in an attempt to be used in industrial or everyday protective clothes that secure the safety and standard of living. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1910–E1917, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet requirements of regenerative medicine, novel biomaterials should either mimic natural tissues or enable multi‐way stimulation of cells. In this study, we prepared two types of hybrids, differing in composition and morphology by decorating CNTs with iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs), and introduced them into the poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) to prepare biocompatible composite films using casting method. The effect of the type of multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/ION hybrid and its content on the composites' parameters that are important for cell‐biomaterial interaction that is, surface morphology, wettability, surface energy, and mechanical properties, was examined and compared with results obtained for the PCL, PCL/MWCNT and PCL/ION films. Additionally, materials with IONs were characterized in terms of their magnetic properties. Irrespective of the nanoaddition type, CNT‐based films with content of CNTs up to 1 wt% were characterized by similar surface parameters (completely distinguishable from the PCL film). Pristine CNTs were found to improve the tensile strength of the PCL films while IONs caused its reduction. Interestingly, composites containing 1 wt% of the hybrid, with a 1:1 ratio of MWCNTs and IONs, exhibited tensile strength similar to the PCL/CNTs film. Decoration of CNTs with IONs was found to significantly improve the dispersion level of magnetic phase within the polymer. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1818–E1830, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) supported nano silica (SiO2), SiO2‐GO, was synthesized via in situ hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) on GO surface. It was proved that SiO2 nanoparticles with an average particle diameter of ca. 30 nm were covalently grafted through Si—O—C bonds and evenly distributed on the surface of GO sheets. Subsequently, SiO2—GO was incorporated into styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) latex to prepare elastomer composite (SBR/SiO2‐GO). As expected, because of the unique architecture of SiO2‐GO, the irreversible agglomeration of SiO2 or GO was eliminated and the nanohybrid was uniformly dispersed in the rubber composites. In addition, the interfacial interaction between SiO2‐GO and rubber was also significantly improved. Consequently, SBR/SiO2‐GO composites showed much higher mechanical strength than SBR composites containing equal amount of GO or physical mixture of SiO2/GO. For example, when the filler content is 6 phr, the tensile strength of SBR/SiO2‐GO composites is further increased by 21% and 94% compared to those of SBR/GO and SBR/SiO2/GO composites, respectively. Moreover, SiO2‐GO nano hybrid can also endow rubber composites with better thermal conductivity than the physical mixture of SiO2 and GO. Potentially, this unique hybrid architecture synthesized in this work may provide a new method for the preparation of high‐performance elastomer composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1633–E1641, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to incorporate bio‐waste fillers that is, micro rice husk powder (RHP) and rice husk ash powder (RHA), into epoxy resins using a three‐roll mill and fabricate composites by reinforcing carbon fabrics via vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding process and study their mechanical properties. The RHP and RHA fillers were prepared in the size range 2–6 μm by mechano‐ball milling and low‐temperature burning and only mechano‐ball milling, respectively. The effect of various wt% (0.3, 0.5, and 1) of the fillers was investigated in terms of the mechanical properties based on tensile, bending, and tension–tension fatigue tests. The mechanical results revealed optimum strengths, especially flexural (770 MPa, 0.3% RHP) and fatigue (five times fatigue life, 0.5% RHA) properties, due to the powder increasing the adhesive strength between the fiber and matrix and making crazes for arresting the development of cracks; these were further supported by the micro‐observations made using a scanning electron microscope. Overall, this study addresses environmental pollution by utilizing bio‐waste materials in carbon‐reinforced polymer composites with decent properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1504–E1511, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the emergence and commercialization of graphene, new opportunities have emerged for toughening polymer‐based functional energetic composites (e.g., polymer‐bonded explosives [PBX]) using nano‐graphene without sacrificing strength and glass transition temperature, as compared with conventional elastomeric tougheners. In this work, inorganic nano‐graphene is used to study the toughness enhancing effects and mechanical properties of 1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocane (HMX)‐based PBX. Fabrication procedures of HMX‐based PBX with different content of graphene are presented, and well‐dispersion for graphene in binder matrix is obtained by ultrasonic processing. Experimental results indicated the addition of nano‐graphene can greatly increase the toughness, with the fracture energy enhanced from 32.5 to 64.9 J m−3 compared with normal HMX‐based PBX. Such improvement was obtained at a low graphene concentration (0.2–0.4 wt%). Strong interaction of the graphene and the binder matrix, combined with the inherent properties of well‐dispersed graphene are the decisive factors with respect to the outstanding toughening effect. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1151–E1161, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A conductive composite is fabricated by directly infiltration method. • The conductivity of composite is anisotropic because of the ordered network. • The composite can be assembled into desired shapes as LEGO® modulars. Abstract Graphene aerogel (GA), a continuous network constructed by graphene sheets, received tremendous research interests because of its fascinating properties inherited from graphene and continuous network as aerogel. GA with anisotropic structures can be prepared by simple hydrothermal reduction of liquid crystalline graphene oxide, and this ordered GA is a prior candidate to hybrid with polymers to make conductive composites. In this work, a new composite was fabricated by directly infiltrating ordered GA with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Benefit from the presence of GA continuous network, the insulative PDMS turned into electrical conductive composite after intercalated with GA. Furthermore, the conductivity of GA/PDMS composite was anisotropic as a consequence of the ordered microstructure of GA network. Due to the support of PDMS, the obtained composites can be easily fabricated and subsequently assembled into desired shape as LEGO® modulars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The surface of BiVO 4 is modified by KH550 for the closer contact with RGO. • Ag 3 PO 4 is deposited on the surface of BiVO 4 /RGO by electrostatic self-assembling. • BiVO 4 /RGO/Ag 3 PO 4 shows enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light. • The contact of BiVO 4 , Ag 3 PO 4 and RGO promotes migration of photoinduced carriers. • BiVO 4 /RGO/Ag 3 PO 4 composite possesses better photo-stability than bare Ag 3 PO 4. Abstract A novel BiVO 4 /RGO/Ag 3 PO 4 ternary composite photocatalyst was fabricated through a two-step method of solvothermal assisted in situ ion sequential deposition method. The morphological structure, composition and optical properties were characterized by SEM, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, PL and UV–vis. The photocatalytic activities were assessed by the photocatalytic degradation process of Rhodamine B (RhB) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), and its photocatalytic mechanism was analyzed by conducting active radicals trapping experiments. The as-obtained BiVO 4 /RGO/Ag 3 PO 4 composite photocatalysts exhibited enhancement in photocatalytic activities compared with the pure BiVO 4 , Ag 3 PO 4 and BiVO 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 composite photocatalysts, which can degrade 98.2% of RhB and 82.1% of 4-NP in 45 min under the simulated sunlight irradiation when the mass ratio of Ag 3 PO 4 to BiVO 4 /RGO composites was 0.6:1. The photo-generated holes (h+) and the superoxide radicals (O 2 −) radicals were the dominant active species during the photocatalytic degradation process. The enhancement in photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of BiVO 4 and Ag 3 PO 4 , and the incorporation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) which can promote the transfer and separation of photogenerated carriers at their interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present the preparation of nano-TiO2-silicone resin composite films by double liquid phase spray deposition. The films exhibit better adhesion stability and photocatalytic activity under a hydrodynamic erosion condition than conventional nano-TiO2 composite films. The TiO2 layer morphology and effective TiO2 coverage ratio (CR) were affected by the initial curing time (ICT) of the silicone resin, e.g., the increase in an ICT from 10 to 40 min resulted in a CR change from 79.1 to 98.7%. The surface morphology evolution of composite films was studied under a hydrodynamic erosion period of 4 weeks. Obtained results allowed the 4-week evolution to be divided into four stages (pitting, crack pregnant, banded stripping, and surface stripping periods), additionally revealed that the CR of all samples was remained above 65%. The photocatalytic activity of composite films before and after 4-week hydrodynamic erosion was evaluated by rhodamine B degradation experiments. The 4-week erosion only led to the decrease of the photodegradation efficiencies by less than 40% in all cases. Thus, the fabricated TiO2-silicone composite films demonstrated excellent durability and photocatalytic activity under the conditions of long-term hydrodynamic erosion, allowing one to conclude that this work paves the way to the fabrication of next-generation photocatalytic materials for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lattice materials can be designed through their microstructure while concurrently considering fabrication feasibility. Here, we propose two types of composite lattice materials with enhanced resistance to buckling: (a) hollow lattice materials fabricated by a newly developed bottom-up assembly technique and the previously developed thermal expansion molding technique and (b) hierarchical lattice materials with foam core sandwich trusses fabricated by interlocking assembly process. The mechanical performance of sandwich structures featuring the two types of lattice cores was tested and analyzed theoretically. For hollow lattice core material, samples from two different fabrication processes were compared and both failed by nodal rupture or debonding. In contrast, hierarchical lattice structures failed by shear buckling without interfacial failure in the sandwich struts. Calculations using established analytical models indicated that the shear strength of hollow lattice cores could be optimized by judicious selection of the thickness of patterned plates. Likewise, the shear strength of hierarchical foam core truss cores could be maximized (with minimal weight) through design of truss geometry. The bottom-up assembly technique could provide a feasible way for mass production of lattice cores, but the design about how to assembly is critical. Hierarchical lattice cores with foam sandwich trusses should be a suitable choice for future lightweight material application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The ultra-fine-grained ZrO 2 -reinforeced W composites were obtained by hydrothermal synthesis method and spark plasma sintering. The precursors of WO 3 and Zr(OH) 2 were evenly mixed in aqueous solutions via the liquid-liquid doping, a hydrothermal method. The addition of ZrO 2 could significantly refine W particles, and thus the ultra-fine and well-mixed W-ZrO 2 composite powders were obtained after reduction, with the average size of 2 μm for W particles and ~20 nm for Y 2 O 3 -stabilized ZrO 2 particles. The relative density of the sintered samples increases from 92.8% to 98.9% with increasing ZrO 2 content. The W-1.5wt%ZrO 2 alloy possesses the prominent properties of 538.8 HV for microhardness, and 1628 MPa for compressive strength when compressed to 21% strain-to-failure at room temperature and a strain rate of 1.7 × 10−3 s−1. The high temperature compressive tests shows that the existence of peak stress is not observed in the true stress-stain curves, indicating that the dynamic recovery is the main cause of deformation softening during deformation. Highlights • Nano-sized W-ZrO 2 powder was synthesized by hydrothermal method. • W and ZrO 2 particles were mixed evenly via liquid-liquid doping. • ZrO 2 addition refined effectively W particles and improved the high temperature strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effect of different amount of Li 2 ZrO 3 (LZ) (0-15wt%) addition on the properties of composite Li 4 SiO 4 (LS) ceramic pebbles was studied. The Li 4 SiO 4 -Li 2 ZrO 3 composite powder was prepared using solid state route at a calcination temperature as low as 900 °C via in-situ method. The composite pebbles were fabricated using a cost-effective and simple technique called extrusion-spherodization. The sintered pebbles were characterized for density, grain size, pore size distribution, crush load and moisture stability. The composite pebbles showed good sintered density (∼87.1%) for LS-5wt% LZ in comparison to LS pebbles (∼80%) when fired at 1000 °C. Moreover, the LS grain size in the composite pebble was significantly reduced by ∼19.7% when compared to LS pebbles. We also found that the average crush load value of the LS-5wt% LZ composite pebbles was improved by nearly 77% (30 N) to that of the pure LS pebbles (17 N). The LS-5wt% LZ pebbles showed excellent stability to moisture in terms of phase and mechanical crush load retention after 30 days of exposure to humidity. The results achieved in this work were found to be fit to the desired properties for use as a ceramic solid breeder. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Effect of Li 2 ZrO 3 incorporation on the properties of LS-LZ composite was studied. • Composite pebbles were fabricated using exrusion-spherodization technique. • Grain size in the composite pebble was reduced by ∼19% compared to LS. • Mechanical crush load of the composite pebbles improved significantly. • Composite pebbles shows good stability to moisture compared to LS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Metallic implant materials are biomaterials that have experienced major development over the last fifty years, yet some demands posed to them have not been addressed. For the osseointegration process and the outcome of endosseous implantation, it is crucial to reduce the stress shielding effect and achieve sufficient biocompatibility. Powder metallurgy (PM) was utilized in this study to fabricate a new type of titanium (Ti) + magnesium (Mg) bioactive composite to enable stress-shielding reduction and obtain better biocompatibility compared with that of the traditional Ti and Ti alloys used for dental implants. Such composites are produced by well-known cost-effective and widely used PM methods, which eliminate the need for complex and costly Ti casting used in traditional implant production. The relation between the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-extruded Ti + (0–24) vol% Mg composites was investigated with respect to the Mg content. The microstructure of the composites consisted of a biodegradable Mg component in the form of filaments, elongated along the direction of extrusion, which were embedded within a permanent, bioinert Ti matrix. As the Mg content was increased, the discrete filaments became interconnected with each other and formed a continuous Mg network. Young's modulus (E) of the composites was reduced to 81 GPa, while other tensile mechanical properties were maintained at the values required for a dental implant material. The corrosion behavior of the Ti + Mg composites was studied during immersion in a Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) for up to 21 days. The elution of Mg pores formed at former Mg sites led to a further decrease of E to 74 GPa. The studied compositions showed that a new Ti + Mg metallic composite should be promising for load-bearing applications in endosseous dental implants in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bulk anisotropic RT 7 /α-Fe(Co)+Nd 2 Fe 14 B/α-Fe (RT 7 denotes Sm(CoFeCuZr) 7 phase) multiphase nanohybrid magnets have been designed and prepared by High-Pressure Thermal Compression (HPTC), using a blend of Nd 9 Fe 85.5 Cu 1.5 B 4 amorphous and SmCo-based amorphous-nanocrytalline powders as precursors. The resulting HPTC magnet is composed of alternating RT 7 /α-Fe(Co) and Nd 2 Fe 14 B/α-Fe nanocomposite layers along the pressure direction. A (00 l) crystallographic texture for the RT 7 and Nd 2 Fe 14 B nanocrystals has been achieved in the RT 7 /α-Fe(Co) and Nd 2 Fe 14 B/α-Fe layers, respectively. The RT 7 /α-Fe(Co) layer comprises elongated RT 7 nanocrystals (8–13 nm in thickness and 13–20 nm in length) and approximately equiaxed α-Fe(Co) nanograins with an average size of ∼13 nm. The Nd 2 Fe 14 B/α-Fe layer consists of lath-shaped Nd 2 Fe 14 B nanograins (15–30 nm in thickness and 30–55 nm in length) and approximately equiaxed α-Fe nanograins with an average size of ∼19 nm. The HPTC magnet exhibits a maximum energy product of 25 MGOe, with a high soft-magnetic fraction of ∼30 wt%, and a low coercivity temperature coefficient of β (RT-250 °C) = −0.28% oC−1. Our work provides an alternative approach to yielding high-performance bulk multiphase nanohybrid magnets. Highlights • Bulk anisotropic multiphase nanohybrid magnets have been fabricated. • The nanohybrid magnet has high soft phase content (∼30 wt%) and fine grain size. • The magnet comprises alternating RT 7 /α-Fe(Co) and Nd 2 Fe 14 B/α-Fe layers. • A (00 l) texture for the RT 7 and Nd 2 Fe 14 B nanocrystals is simultaneously achieved. • The magnet displays a large (BH) max = 25 MGOe and a low β (RT-250 °C) = −0.28% oC−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mycelium-based composites result from the growth of filamentous fungi on organic materials such as agricultural waste streams. These novel biomaterials represent a promising alternative for product design and manufacturing both in terms of sustainable manufacturing processes and circular lifespan. This study shows that their morphology, density, tensile and flexural strength, as well as their moisture- and water-uptake properties can be tuned by varying type of substrate (straw, sawdust, cotton), fungal species (Pleurotus ostreatus vs. Trametes multicolor) and processing technique (no pressing or cold or heat pressing). The fungal species impacts colonization level and the thickness of the air-exposed mycelium called fungal skin. Colonization level and skin thickness as well as the type of substrate determine the stiffness and water resistance of the materials. Moreover, it is shown that heat pressing improves homogeneity, strength and stiffness of the materials shifting their performance from foam-like to cork- and wood-like. Together, these results demonstrate that by changing the fabrication process, differences in performance of mycelium materials can be achieved. This highlights the possibility to produce a range of mycelium-based composites. In fact, it is the first time mycelium composites have been described with natural material properties. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The type of fungus influences homogeneity of mycelium composite materials and thickness of the fungal skin. • The fungal skin impacts mechanical behaviour of the mycelium composite material and improves water resistance. • Straw-based materials are stiffer and less moisture-resistant than cotton-based mycelium composites. • Heat pressing improves homogeneity, strength and stiffness of mycelium composite material. • Heat-pressed mycelium materials have similar density and elastic modulus as natural materials (e.g. cork and wood). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mesoporous silica (mSiO 2) particles are emerging as one of potential abrasives in high-efficiency and damage-free chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) due to their special mechanical and/or chemical characteristics. In this work, the dendritic meso-silica (D-mSiO 2) shells with tunable pore sizes were uniformly deposited on the solid silica (sSiO 2) core surfaces via a modified biphase stratification approach. As confirmed by FESEM, HRTEM, TEM, and N 2 adsorption-desorption measurements, the obtained spherical sSiO 2 /D-mSiO 2 composites with well-defined core/shell structures presented uniform diameter (ca. 340 nm), high surface area (∼210 m2/g), and large pore volume (∼0.3 cm3/g). The average pore size (3.6–11.6 nm) and shell thickness of D-mSiO 2 could be adjusted by varying hydrophobic solvents in the upper oil phases (1-octadecene, decahydronaphthalene, and n-hexane) and amount of silica source. Furthermore, the influence of the pore size of the sSiO 2 /D-mSiO 2 composites on oxide-CMP performance was investigated in terms of surface quality and material removal rate. In our experiments, the lowest average surface roughness was obtained for the composites with the largest pore size, which might result from their lowest overall hardness and elastic modulus determined by their largest porosity. In addition, the highest removal rate was achieved when the pore size of the composites was smallest. The enlarged surface area might contribute to enhancing the chemical corrosion, and further promoting the tribo-chemical reactivity between abrasive particles and substrate surfaces. Overall, the presented results are expected to provide experimental and theoretical basis for the structure optimization of mSiO 2 -based abrasive particles. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The dendritic meso-silica composite particles with tunable pore sizes were obtained. • The pore size can be adjusted by varying hydrophobic solvents in the upper oil phases. • The dependency of pore size and CMP performance of composite abrasives was explored. • The composite abrasives with the largest pore size reveal the lowest surface finish. • The composite abrasives with the smallest pore size achieve the highest removal rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]