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Perovskites, known for their excellent photoluminescence efficiency and color purity, have seen widespread application in flat panel displays and lighting in recent years. Here, we present a process for fabricating CsPbBr3 perovskite film (PeFilm) with high luminescent properties and remarkable weather resistance. By combining single-source vapor deposition (SSVD) with subsequent heat treatment, the quality of PeFilms has been significantly improved. We enhanced the quality of PeFilms by using a thermal annealing process to remove PbBr2 from CsPb2Br5. During annealing, PbBr2 evaporates from PeFilms, changing the crystal phase to CsPbBr3. The heat treatment rearranges atoms between grains, promoting grain growth and fusion, producing larger crystals and reducing defects. The research results demonstrate that the integration of SSVD and appropriate heat treatment enables the fabrication of the CsPbBr3 PeFilm with an emission wavelength of 533 nm, CIE coordinates of (0.1842, 0.7797), and a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 52.1%, and even after storing it in atmospheric conditions for 100 days, the PLQY of the CsPbBr3 PeFilm remains above 52%, demonstrating excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a TiNbCrTa refractory complex concentrated alloy (RCCA) was prepared using vacuum arc remelting. The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of both as-cast and heat-treated RCCA samples were analyzed. Heat treatment (HT) was performed at 800–1200 °C for 1 h in a vacuum-sealed environment. These samples exhibited a formation of Cr2Nb and Cr2Ti Laves phases. A variation in elemental distribution was observed, with interdendritic (ID) regions showing higher fractions of Ti and Cr, while the dendritic regions had a greater concentration of Ta and Nb. Micro-segregation at the IDs was confirmed through energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy mapping, which inferred the formation of Cr- and Ti-rich phases during HT at 800–1200 °C. High-temperature HT at 1200 °C for 1 h led to the evolution of the hcp omega phase. Prolonged HT at 1200 °C for 96 h resulted in the evolution of a Cr-rich Laves phase (Cr2Ta), which was homogeneously distributed within the microstructure, indicating an unstable microstructure. Furthermore, despite prolonged HT, a variation in the elemental distribution persisted due to the presence of dendritic and ID regions. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis revealed the presence of bcc and hcp phases in the dendritic and ID regions, respectively, of the as-cast and HTed samples. The as-cast samples demonstrated a high compressive strength of approximately 2 GPa. Micro-hardness values increased with the HT temperature up to 1000 °C. Further increases under HT conditions did not significantly reduce the microhardness value, whereas prolonged HT at 1200 °C led to an increase in the microhardness value. Overall, the newly developed TiNbCrTa RCCA exhibited high-strength behavior even after the phase transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we studied the nature and dilemma of the inverse magnetocaloric effect using Ni50Mn36In14 magnetic shape memory alloy. In this context, the inverse magnetocaloric effects of Ni50Mn36In14 magnetic shape memory alloy polycrystalline samples were investigated as a function of annealing heat treatments by the thermo-magnetometry method. Two forms of Ni49TiMn36In14 magnetic shape memory alloy were studied: one that predominantly undergoes a magnetic phase transition and the other that exhibits both a magnetic and martensitic phase transition. The magnetic behaviors and magnetocaloric properties of these alloys were analyzed to investigate the competition between magnetic and lattice contributions to the total entropy change. Finally, the mutually contradictory role of magnetic and lattice contributions was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted widespread attention from scholars as a new type of material employed in extreme environments. However, as a main kind of HEAs, many face-centered cubic single-phase HEAs are restricted in industrial applications due to their lower yield strength and high cost when containing expensive elements such as Co. In this study, dispersion strengthening by heat treatment was introduced in low-cost Co-free Fe40Mn20Cr20Ni20 HEA to improve its strength, and its high-temperature tensile behavior and constitutive model were studied to explore its potential application at high temperatures. It is found that when subjected to quasi-static room-temperature stretching, the heat-treated sample exhibits a yield strength of 534 MPa and a tensile plasticity of 26.8%. In addition, the tensile behavior of samples after heat treatment was investigated at high temperature (573–873 K) and low strain rate (10−3–10−1 s−1). The results suggest that the yield strength decreases with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. Moreover, at 873 K and 10−3 s−1, the electron backscatter diffraction system and x-ray diffraction results of the deformed sample indicate that the softening curve is driven from the recovery of materials. Finally, the flow stress was predicted using the Arrhenius equation and Artificial Neural Network model (ANN), and the two models were assessed using the average absolute relative error and coefficient of correlation (R). The results showed that the ANN had higher accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical powders are required for many advanced manufacturing techniques due to their inherent requirement of flowability, either within feed tubes or during powder spreading. As advanced manufacturing of magnets continues to develop, new production methods for feedstocks are also sought. Plasma spheroidization is a high-yield method to produce spherical Nd–Fe–B powders from irregularly shaped particles, with advantages including high throughput and a well-controlled size distribution. Highly spherical Nd–Fe–B powders with large scale production (i.e., kg) have been demonstrated using an inductively coupled thermal plasma system; however, the magnetic properties of the output powder display significant degradation. The coercivity was decreased from the initial 8 kOe (636 kA/m) of the as-received to 0.7 kOe (55 kA/m) for spheroidized powders. Microstructural investigation reveals 6% Nd depletion caused by the extreme temperatures of the plasma, leading to the formation of low-coercivity α-Fe and a subsequent decrease in energy product. Post-spheroidization heat treatments with Nd can partially mitigate the coercivity degradation, increasing to 1.7 kOe (135 kA/m), potentially offering a pathway toward spherical powders for a range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical and experimental approaches have been employed for studying the lattice site occupation effect on the electronic structure and some physical properties of CoMnCrAl Heusler alloy (HA). Among possible variants of the ordered stoichiometric CoMnCrAl HA lattice site occupation by Co, Mn, Cr, and Al atoms, the first-principle calculations have been performed for three nonequivalent ones (marked by us as type 1, type 2, and type 3, respectively). CoMnCrAl HA with atomic order of the first type is half-metallic ferromagnet (FM) with resulting magnetic moment of m t o t 1 = 0.9999 μ B /f.u. and spin-polarization degree of Fermi electrons P 1 = 100 % , for atomic orders of second and third types, m t o t and P are equal to m t o t 2 = 1.0186 μ B /f.u., P 2 = 89 % and m t o t 3 = 6.8673 μ B /f.u., P 3 = 77 % , respectively. Changes in the order type on the way T1 → T2 → T3 cause a decrease in the spatial electron density, weakening of the covalent chemical interatomic bonds, lead to a decrease in the cohesion energy E c o h and hence to loss of the thermodynamic stability of the CoMnCrAl alloy. Despite various high-temperature heat treatments, only B2- and A2-types of atomic order have been obtained in bulk and film CoMnCrAl alloy samples. Experimentally, it was found that bulk B2-type ordered CoMnCrAl alloy demonstrates significantly lower magnetization [ M (300 K) = 0.442 μ B /f.u.] and spin-polarization degree of Fermi electrons [ P ≈ 30 % ] than theoretically predicted. More disordered crystalline CoMnCrAl films with A2-type of atomic order practically are non-FM at T = 300 K with P = 0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we study the effect of quenching and annealing on the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties at room temperature and elevated temperatures of a new ternary BiFeO3-PbTiO3-Li0.5Bi0.5TiO3 bulk piezo ceramic. While sacrificing part of the maximally obtainable piezoelectric constant value, using an optimal heat treatment, a quasi-stable value for the piezoelectric constant of 65 pC/N was obtained irrespective of the annealing temperature. All experimental results point to the direction of unusual defect behavior in this novel ternary system leading to a well-defined metastable state. The quenching and annealing process are completely reversible and can be used in combination with additional chemical modifications to tailor the properties of this new high-temperature piezoelectric ceramic to the intended use conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.926814.].

This study incorporates five different transpiration cooling channels, two circular, two hexagonal, and one novel bio‐inspired blood vessel that are designed in a monolithic turning tool and produced via metal additive manufacturing. They are heat treated under direct aging (DA1 and DA2) and solution heat‐treatment (SHT1 + DA1, SHT1 + DA2, and SHT2 + DA1) conditions to study the effects of heat treatment on the hardness and dimensions of complex internal geometries as they play a significant role in cooling effectiveness. Microstructural characterization for DA revealed the formation of lath‐type martensitic phases with uniform distribution, which improves the microhardness significantly, with SHT2 + DA1 achieving the highest hardness 641.2 HV and DA2 producing 611.7 HV. From the X‐ray microcomputed tomography, various heat treatments have very insignificant deviations in the dimensions of the transpiration channels (0.05% to 1%) from the as‐printed dimensions. Further, variations in design are not associated with the heat‐treatment process and the achieved hardness. This study helps create a standard operating procedure for heat treatment for complex internal channels with minimal dimensional deviations and highest hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials for additive manufacturing (AM), such as PLA and PEEK, are often used in biomedical applications, which involve interaction with liquid media. Consequently, the degradation process is a part of the service life of such polymers that can alter their mechanical response due to gradual changes in materials' properties. Studying the behaviour of polymers in such environments is thus important for the prediction of the mechanical performance of biomedical devices. This paper examines the process of accelerated degradation of AM PLA and PEEK samples in saline solution and distilled water at elevated temperatures. An analysis of changes in mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and density, of PLA and PEEK with the immersion time was performed. The influence of heat treatment on the degradation process was investigated. It was found that the degradation rate of PLA in distilled water was higher than in NaCl. The trends in density changes measured with hydrostatic weighing correspond to those in the strength properties of the studied samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to establish a systematic framework for parametric identification of materials undergoing high temperatures and high strain rates. While advanced testing equipment, such as the Gleeble physical simulator, can produce controlled measurements of specimens under various conditions, significant challenges remain in determining the parameters of constitutive relations. Temperature gradients inevitably arise during Gleeble testing, leading to nonuniform strain distribution caused by complex thermal–mechanical coupling. Although finite element analysis of Gleeble testing can be performed, such simulations are computationally expensive, making brute-force optimization to minimize the difference between experimental data and finite element simulation across the parametric space infeasible. Furthermore, since the related constitutive relations are semi-empirical in nature, the ground truth of the constitutive parameters is generally unknown. In this context, a single-objective optimization based on a number of testing conditions may yield biased results or become trapped in local minima. In this research, we employ finite element analysis simulating Gleeble operation as the foundation, leveraging a suite of computational intelligence tools to address these challenges. We first develop a multi-response Gaussian process surrogate model, trained using a relatively small amount of finite element data, to rapidly emulate the forward analysis. We then implement a multi-objective optimization approach using simulated annealing to individually minimize the differences between experimental results and emulations under various testing conditions. AISI 9310 steel and the Johnson–Cook model are adopted for methodological demonstration. The development of the finite element model, Gaussian process surrogate model, and inverse optimization is detailed, and the results obtained are discussed. This framework can be extended to the parametric identification of other materials and heat treatment conditions using Gleeble testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale applications of high‐capacity silicon‐based anodes remain a challenge for high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) owing to huge volume variation. Although designing nano‐sized Silicon (Si) anodes plays a milestone advance in the commercial development, it's still hindered by issues related to cost and side reactions. A simple co‐pyrolysis of SiH4 and C2H4 is introduced via chemical‐vapor‐deposition (CVD) method to prepare SiCx micro‐sized particles with atomic‐level homogeneous distributions of silicon and carbon. One basic unit of SiC4 tetrahedra in SiCx plays a key role in particles' microstructure optimization and electrochemical performance improvement: 1) The SiC4‐enriched surface layer is found to hinder Li+ insertion. 2) Proper heat‐treatment temperature is adopted to eliminate the layer and control the transition from SiC4 to SiC nanocrystalline, which is significant for decreasing polarization, enhancing Li+ diffusion kinetics, and cycling stability. Consequently, the optimized architecture exhibits a high capacity of 1455 mA h g−1 with an outstanding capacity retention of 95.8% after 100 cycles. Pouch‐type full‐cell demonstrates that the composite possesses excellent cycling stability with capacity retentions of 82.5% after 500 cycles at 25 °C and 84.0% after 400 cycles at 45 °C. This work provides a scalable yet practical solution to micro‐sized Si‐based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen embrittlement behavior of Ni–Cr–Mo-based superalloy fabricated by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) with or without solution treatment was investigated by electrochemical hydrogen charging. The results show that the dissolution of the Laves phase promotes the precipitation of the δ phase in the matrix of WAAM superalloy after solution treatment at 980 °C. When the solution temperature goes up to 1080 °C, the large Laves phase disappears and only MC exists in the matrix. The interfaces between the Laves phase/δ phase and matrix generally could act as hydrogen traps, which would reduce the motion of hydrogen and lead to high hydrogen embrittlement resistance of the WAAM and ST-980 °C samples. However, hydrogen mainly accumulates on grain boundaries in the ST-1080 °C due to the disappearance of the Laves phase and δ phase. Hydrogen-induced intergranular brittle fracture occurs during the slow strain rate tensile test and the ST-1080 °C samples exhibit higher hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility than that of the WAAM and ST-980 °C samples. • The solid solution changes the element distribution and precipitates in the WAAM superalloy. • The effect of hydrogen on the mechanical properties of the WAAM superalloy was investigated. • The hydrogen diffusion in the WAAM superalloy is affected by dendrite, Laves phase and δ phase. • The fracture mode of the hydrogen-containing WAAM superalloy is different under different solid solution temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ir-Ni alloys supported on SiO2 have been reported to show high catalytic activity for styrene hydrogenation; however, precise control of compositions and sizes of the Ir-Ni alloys is difficult when conventional metal salts are used as precursors. Furthermore, the concomitant formation of unalloyed Ni nanoparticles disturbs quantitative discussion about Ir-Ni alloy compositions. We report herein a preparation method of Ir-Ni alloys with precisely controlled compositions on SiO2 using Ni(NO3)2 and an Ir complex possessing CN- ligands, [Ir(CN)6]3- or [Ir(ppy)2(CN)2]- (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine), as precursors. The in situ formation of cyano-bridged coordination polymers involving Ir and Ni promotes the formation of Ir-Ni alloys, whose compositions are virtually the same as expected from the amounts of Ir and Ni used for the preparation, after heat treatment under H2. The use of [Ir(ppy)2(CN)2]- as the precursor resulted in the formation of smaller Ir-Ni alloy particles than those with [Ir(CN)6]3- related to the structures of the formed coordination polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camel milk and its products are vital sources of nutrition for inhabitants of arid and semi-arid nomadic pastoral regions, where camels are predominantly raised. Alternatively, the high demand for soy milk originates from its nutritional importance, catering to individuals seeking/plant-based alternatives with health and environmental benefits. Camel milk is rich in essential nutrients, contains less lactose than bovine milk, and offers numerous health benefits. Although camel milk contains higher levels of α-lactalbumin and β-casein than bovine milk, the absence of β-lactoglobulin and the presence of low amounts of κ-casein make it unstable at high temperatures, exhibiting poor gelation characteristics. Soymilk proteins exhibit unique heat stability and gelation characteristics based on processing variables such as pH, temperature, and presence of coagulants. The use of camel milk and soymilk proteins enables the attainment of high sustainability, desirable tastes, better nutrient profiles, and improved functionalities. Thus, this review discusses the thermal stability and gelation properties of camel milk proteins, soymilk proteins, and their respective mixtures. Understanding blends of soy milk and camel milk proteins is crucial for developing nutritionally balanced alternatives, benefiting both individuals seeking plant-based options and those in arid regions relying on camel milk for sustenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural attapulgite (ATP) is a promising substitute for existing artificial nanozymes due to its intrinsic enzymatic activity. However, the active center of ATP's inherent enzymatic activity has not yet been revealed, which limits its further design and activity optimization. Studying the active center of mineral materials can be extremely challenging due to their complexity. Here, we demonstrated that Fe is the primary element in ATP responsible for peroxidase (POD)-like activity through theoretical speculation and experimental verification. More importantly, we found that the ratio of Fe2+/Fe3+ is responsible for the district POD-like activity of ATP from different regions with the same Fe content. Additionally, three facile strategies, including grinding, heat treatment, and acid treatment, were demonstrated to increase the relative Fe content and thus optimize the POD-like activity of ATP. Finally, ATP was used to detect the concentration of H2O2, enabling the detection of low concentrations (0.11–1.76 mM) of H2O2. This study serves as a novel reference for the future design and performance optimization of nanozymes that are based on ATP and clay minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ZrB 2 -SiC-ZrC (ZSZ) composite powders with molar ratios C/(B + Zr + Si) = 1.5, 1.9 and 2.4 were obtained by sol-gel method and boro/carbothermal reduction reaction. Meanwhile, the impact of heat treatment temperature (1100 °C–1600 °C) and holding time (1 h–2.5 h) on the resulting powders were studied. The results showed that the ZSZ powder precursors were first completely converted to ZrO 2 , SiO 2 , B 2 O 3 and pyrolytic carbon after heat treatment at 1200 °C under the optimized molar ratio (2.4) and holding time (2.5 h). Then, the transformed oxidation products and pyrolytic carbon were completely transformed into ZSZ composite powders after optimized heat treatment at 1500 °C. The synthesized ZSZ composite powders are characterized by the core-shell structure, in which ZSZ particles act as the inner core are encapsulated by the low-crystalline ZrB 2 phase as the outer shell to form a core shell structure. The ZSZ composite ceramic materials prepared using the core-shell structural powders have excellent ablative properties in the range of 2000 °C, with the mass and line ablation rate of −3.5 × 10−4 g/cm3 and 2.39 × 10−3 mm/s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanocrystalline textured stainless steel (SS) surface passivated with an AlCr oxide layer is proposed for use as a high temperature solar selective absorbers (SSAs). The textured SS surface was prepared by oxidizing in air at 800 °C for 30 min. The heating resulted in outward diffusion of the SS substrate Mn atoms, their oxidation on the surface, and formation of octahedral Mn 3 O 4 nanocrystals, which play a role of textured surface. The passivation AlCr oxide single layer was deposited on the textured surface using reactive RF magnetron sputtering to protect the SS from further oxidation. The solar absorptivity α s and thermal emissivity ε 298K of the as-deposited SSAs were 0.84 and 0.165, respectively. In order to study high temperature stability, SSAs were heat treated under air conditions at 600–900 °C for 0.1–300 h. SSAs demonstrated thermal stability at 600 °C for at least 300 h and degradation of optical properties with performance criterion PC < 0.05 at 700, 800, and 900 °C for 300 h, 30 h, and 1 h, respectively. The increase in thickness of the surface Cr 2 O 3 layer on SS substrate was identified as the main degradation mechanism of SSA optical performance. SSAs demonstrated a high activation energy of 330 ± 30 kJ/mol. The obtained data can be used to design high temperature SSAs for concentrating solar energy systems operating under vacuum or air conditions at 500 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinel saggar was prepared using Magnesium Aluminum spinel (MgAl 2 O 4), KF and TiO 2 as primary raw materials. The saggar's toughness was enhanced through in-situ generation of potassium titanate whisker (PTW). The impact of sintering temperature on the saggar's phase composition, whisker growth and physical properties was investigated. The findings indicated that the spinel saggar exhibited high densities and robust mechanical strength following heat treatment at 800 °C for 3 h, with an apparent porosity of 27.9 %. The cold modulus of rupture (CMOR) and cold crushing strength (CCS) were measured at 5.58 MPa and 21.05 MPa, respectively. The saggar retained rate 75.6 % of their strength after three thermal cycles at 800 °C for 20 min followed by air cooling. Corrosion analysis identified LiAlO 2 as the primary corrosion product of the spinel saggar. PTW facilitated particle bonding, enhancing the strength and toughness of the spinel saggar. This promoted the dispersion and absorption of thermal stresses during cyclic corrosion to prevent further damage. In contrast, for cordierite-mullite saggar corrosion products included LiAlO 2 , eucryptite(β-LiAlSiO 4) and Li 4 SiO 4. The disparate thermal expansion among these phases resulted in the formation of through cracks, exacerbating saggar corrosion damage. The spinel saggar demonstrated superior performance during the cyclic corrosion process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy carbides-SiC biphasic ceramics demonstrate outstanding mechanical and oxidation resistance properties. However, previous studies have predominantly focused on fabricating dense monolithic high-entropy carbides-SiC biphasic ceramics, with limited attention given to the production of high-purity, narrow particles size distribution high-entropy carbides-SiC biphasic ceramic powders. In this study, we successfully synthesized high-entropy carbides-SiC biphasic ceramic powders, specifically (Hf 0.25 Zr 0.25 Ta 0.25 Ti 0.25)C-SiC, utilizing the polymer-derived-ceramic (PDC) route employing transition metal alcohol solution and methyltrimethoxysilane. The resultant powders exhibited an average particle size of ∼15 μm, with a narrow particle size distribution. Furthermore, variations in the heat treatment temperature demonstrated minimal impact on the particle size, while maintain compositional homogenous from nanoscale to microscale, and exhibiting low oxygen content less than 1.01 %. The introduction of the SiC phase also enhances the dynamic oxidation resistance of the high-entropy carbides. This pioneering work will not only provide a novel approach for obtaining other high-entropy carbides and SiC biphasic ceramic powder but also offers prospects for large-scale fabrication in industrial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A CO 2 -stable, easily sintered proton-conducting oxide electrolytes based on solid solution Ba 7 In 6 Al 2– x Zn x O 19-0.5 x with hexagonal structure has been synthesized for the first time. Within the homogeneity region (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10), there is an increase in unit cell parameters, cell volumes and free cell volumes. The addition of Zn2+ markedly improved the sinterability of the material. The relative density of the ceramics of the doped samples reached 95 % at lower sintering temperatures than the parent phase. The electrical conductivity was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Upon doping the oxygen-ion conductivity increased by 0.25 orders of magnitude at 800 °C. Proton transport was predominant below 500 °C for a wet atmosphere (pH 2 O = 1.92·10−2 atm). The investigated phases Ba 7 In 6 Al 2– x Zn x O 19-0.5 x are capable of hydration and incorporate up to 1.45 mol H 2 O vs 0.41 mol H 2 O for the parent phase. The studied phases exhibit chemical resistance to CO 2 under heat treatment at 600 °C. It was shown that solid solution Ba 7 In 6 Al 2– x Zn x O 19-0.5 x is a promising electrolyte material for intermediate-temperature fuel cells. [Display omitted] • The Zn-doping in solid solution Ba 7 In 6 Al 2– x Zn x O 19-0.5 x markedly improved the sinterability of the material and well-sintered ceramics were obtained with relative density 95 %. • The water uptake increased with increasing Zn-concentration. • Ba 7 In 6 Al 2– x Zn x O 19-0.5 x phases were protonic conductors at T < 500 °C in wet air. • Ba 7 In 6 Al 2– x Zn x O 19-0.5 x phases exhibited chemical resistance to pure CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of graded-index (GRIN) lenses in infrared imaging systems is an effective way to reduce system volume. Chalcogenide glass has been considered an ideal matrix material to produce infrared GRIN lenes because of its excellent rheological property and large refractive index (RI) tunability. Herein, an axial GRIN Ge-As-Se-Te chalcogenide glass with large RI contrast (Δn) was designed and prepared. The GRIN glass was obtained by hot-pressing 11 stacked glass disks with gradually changing RIs and thermally treating them. The glass compositions of the disks were designed according to (1-x) (Ge 20 As 20 Se 20 Te 40)-xGe 12 As 22 Se 66 , where x = 0–1. It was found that these glasses had similar glass transition temperatures of 194∼199 °C, and excellent anti-crystallization performance. The RI (at 10 μm) of the glass dropped approximately linearly from 3.050 to 2.566 as x increased from 0 to 1. More than 1.2 mm diffusion depth was observed on hot-pressed two-layer glass preforms after only 24-h heat treatment. A GRIN glass with a thickness of ∼4.3 mm and linear RI profile was achieved by treating a hot-pressed eleven-layer glass preform for 24 h. The obtained GRIN glass showed good transmittance in the 3–12 μm wavelength range. These results indicate good prospects of the GRIN Ge-As-Se-Te glass for infrared imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorapatite glass-ceramics were prepared at lower temperatures by atmospheric pressure sintering method using KF, MgF 2 and CaF 2 as additives, respectively. Using XRD, SEM and mechanical property test to justify the effect of different fluorides on the sintering properties of fluorapatite composites. The results show that fluoride can be used as nucleating agent, react with wollastonite and phosphate glass to crystallize rod-like fluorapatite phase during heat treatment. The crystallization mechanism of fluorine-containing glass-ceramics was analyzed by crystallization thermodynamics and crystallization kinetics. KF with lower melting point is beneficial to promote the crystallization reaction and improve the morphology stability of the glass ceramic composite, but the volatile gas released during the reaction will affect the mechanical properties of it, resulting in a flexural strength of only 11.81 MPa at 900 °C. For the samples supplemented with MgF 2 and CaF 2 , because of the formation of polycrystalline phase systems, the flexural strength of the composite at 900 °C increases to 62.79 and 52.6 MPa, respectively. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Eu3+ doped multi-component transparent aluminosilicate and oxyfluoride aluminosilicate glasses were fabricated by the melt-quenching procedure, and the glass-ceramics containing LiAlSi 2 O 6 microcrystals (LAS glass-ceramics) were produced by a two-step heat treatment process. The XRD, SEM, and EDS data demonstrate that spherical single-phase LiAlSi 2 O 6 microcrystals have precipitated from the glass matrices. The microhardness and flexural strength of the glass-ceramics vary in 6.27–6.66 GPa and 89.18–155.75 MPa, respectively. Phonon sideband analysis reveals that the phonon energies for both fluorine-containing and fluorine-free LAS glass-ceramics are approximately 971 cm−1, and the multiphonon relaxation rates (W mp / W 0) of the former are lower than those of the latter. Given its lower W mp / W 0 values, the fluorine-containing LAS glass-ceramic exhibits a higher emission intensity and a longer lifetime. Under 394 nm excitation, the fluorine-containing LAS glass-ceramic presents a warm and nearly pure red emission, characterized by a correlated color temperature of less than 3300 K and a color purity approaching 100 %. Time-resolved emission spectra support the photoluminescent stability of the Eu3+ ions. According to the Judd-Ofelt theory and spectral results, the fluorine-containing LAS glass-ceramic possesses lower Ω 2 / Ω 4 and asymmetry ratios, leading to a more symmetrical local environment for the Eu3+ ions. Benefiting from its enhanced red emission, the 5D 0 →7F 2 transition in the fluorine-containing LAS glass-ceramic exhibits a higher branching ratio (69.28 % > 50 %), emission cross-section (8.94 × 10−22 cm2), and gain bandwidth (12.12 × 10−28 cm3). Additionally, temperature-dependent photoluminescence spectra substantiate the excellent thermal stability of the Eu3+ doped fluorine-containing LAS glass-ceramic. Specifically, the intensity of the 5D 0 →7F 2 transition at 150 °C remains 80 % of the initial intensity. Therefore, the Eu3+ doped multi-component transparent oxyfluoride aluminosilicate glass-ceramic has a significant competitive advantage in the field of red lasers and trichromatic WLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal manipulation during embryogenesis and early age (day 3 of rearing) on growth performance of unsexed dual-purpose chickens. The experiment was carried out in two phases: an incubation phase and a rearing phase. During the incubation phase, 1000 hatching eggs from 48-week-old Goliath breeders were used. The eggs were divided into two groups, with 500 eggs each for the control group (T0) and the group that was subjected to thermal modification (T1). Throughout embryonic days 10 to 18 (ED10 to ED18), the T1 group was subjected to 38.5°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) for six hours daily, whereas the T0 group was maintained at standard conditions. At hatch 240 chicks were collected from each heat treatment group, weighed, and transferred to the brooding chamber. Each treatment group was divided into two sub-groups (120 each) which led to 4 treatments: T0, T0’, T1, and T1’. T0’ and T1’ were subjected again to a heat treatment of 38.5°C for 24 hours at day 3 (D3) of rearing. Each group had 6 replicates with 20 birds per pen (1 m × 1 m). Data were collected on feed intake, weight, mortality, and meat quality. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain (WG) and body weight (BW) were than calculated. Results showed that FCR and WG were higher in the T0’ group (P < 0.05) compared to other groups. However, there was no significant difference in the antioxidant status between the groups (P > 0.05) after acute heat stress. But after the incubation and day 3 heat exposure, all the thermal manipulated groups had an improved antioxidant status (P < 0.05). Thermal manipulation did not affect the sensorial characteristics of the chicken meat, but significantly decreased the PH value in all treated groups (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was higher in the T0 group compared to the thermal manipulated groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a 6-hour heat treatment from ED10 and ED18 of embryogenesis and on the third day post-hatch can improve the growth performance of Goliath chickens without affecting meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, friction stir welding (FSW) of a gamma prime (γ′) strengthened Haynes 282 nickel-base superalloy by using a novel hemispherical tool is documented. A joint efficiency of ~ 96% was achieved in the as-welded condition, which further increased to ~ 100% after two-step post-weld aging heat treatment. An extremely fine (~ 2 μm) grained microstructure was observed in the FSWed region compared with the coarse (~ 48 μm) grain base metal region. The carbides (MC and M23C6) and γ′ precipitates are identified as the important microstructural constituent phases observed in the welded region. The aging heat treatment resulted in the precipitation of the γ′ strengthening phase and altered the morphology of the M23C6 carbide phase in the welded region from a continuous film to discrete particles at the grain boundaries. The preliminary results concerning tool life suggest that no significant tool wear occurs at least up to a welding distance of 200 mm. Therefore, the novel hemispherical tool design allows the successful FSW of high-temperature application materials without any significant tool wear or high heat generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densification behavior, grain growth kinetics, mechanical and thermal properties of pressurelessly sintered zirconium diboride–silicon carbide (ZrB2–SiC) fabricated by extrusion of high solids loading pastes have been studied. The effects of sintering temperature (1600–2300°C), heating rate during constant heating rate sintering (10–50°C/min), and time during isothermal sintering (3–24 h) on density and grain size were examined. The apparent activation energy for densification was determined to be 940 ± 90 kJ/mol, suggesting lattice diffusion as the dominant sintering mechanism. Grain growth of both ZrB2 and SiC followed a normal grain growth power law with grain growth exponent n = 2 indicating diffusion‐controlled coarsening. The activation energies for grain growth were 267 ± 10 kJ/mol for ZrB2 and 264 ± 15 kJ/mol for SiC. Sintered microstructures were homogeneous with relative densities of 95%–99% depending on heat treatment schedules. Flexural strength (270 ± 40 MPa) was lower than hot‐pressed materials of equivalent composition by a factor of two or more due to the presence of pores originating from paste inhomogeneities. Young's modulus (482 ± 20 GPa) and Vicker's microhardness (22 ± 5 MPa HV0.2), as well as thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity up to 1800°C were found to be comparable to hot‐pressed materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to look at the differences between a high entropy alloy and a dual phase high entropy alloy with high iron and Mn content. It also wanted to find out what happened when a small amount of the rare earth element erbium oxide (Er 2 O 3) was added to these alloys, especially on the mechanical and microstructure of the alloy. The first step in this study was to get 99 % pure metal powders, which were then made by dividing the powders into 30 g of equal weight. The powders were mixed evenly and then pressed into 10-g blocks under 6 tons of pressure. They were then set up to be melted in an arc. Four of the eight samples that were melted in an arc under vacuum were treated with heat. The four different compositions were then turned into small metallographic samples for SEM, EDX, Mapping, XRD, and microhardness tests. The study's imaging and analysis processes were also carried out. After that, SEM images were taken at various magnifications (100X, 500X, 1000X, 2500X, and 5000X), and EDS and XRD analyses were done on different structures found in these images. These analyses were based on literature research about the clarity of the metallographic images in the alloy, which showed the study's metallographic differences. The samples were put through microhardness and wear tests to see which one was stronger and less worn. The dual phase high entropy alloy (A2) was stronger and less worn than the high entropy alloy (A1). Er 2 O 3 had little effect on the alloys' mechanical properties or microstructure. The heat treatment that was done to the samples helped the metallographic structure. In terms of physics, it didn't change the hardness much, but it did make the material wear less quickly. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymers represent a distinct class of materials characterised by their X-ray amorphous nature and nanoporous, nanoparticulate structure. Geopolymers can be conveniently mixed, poured, and cured under ambient conditions. This makes this class of materials an interesting alternative to ordinary Portland cement for structural processes. Additionally, the addition of alumina can improve mechanical properties, while the addition of glass can form an impermeable glaze which could be useful for molten salt containment. Therefore, in this investigation, potassium metakaolin-based geopolymer composites with varying proportions of glass particles and alumina platelets were fabricated, cured, heat-treated, and analyzed to study the effects of composition on material properties. Various attributes including rheological properties, densities, mass loss, shrinkage, and porosities were compared. It was observed that certain compositions exhibited high viscosities, making high shear mixing challenging, while also displaying significant permeability that would hinder their ability to contain liquids without leakage. Additionally, certain samples showed reduced densities, suggesting potentially weaker mechanical properties; however, the investigation did not include a direct assessment of mechanical properties. The most promising candidates for containing liquids at high temperature contained 50 wt% KGP, 25 or 35 wt% glass powder, and 25 or 15 wt% alumina platelets, respectively. ASH-G slurries required a minimum of 65 vol% KGP to produce a homogenous material compatible with additive manufacturing. The minimum amount of glass phase to form surface glazes was 16 vol%. Only samples containing more glass phase than alumina phase produced glazed composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study successfully enabled the creation of ceramic surfaces with multi functionalities, including superhydrophilicity, self-cleaning, antibacterial properties, and photocatalytic activity, by applying a glaze composition rich in nano ZnO/Cu–ZnO and utilizing surface chemistry and unique texturing on porcelain tiles. The tiles, coated with unique glaze compositions, were fired in an industrial furnace and heat treated. The crystalline phases and surface morphology of glazed surfaces were systematically evaluated using XRD, SEM, FT-IR, drop shape analyzer, and surface roughness profilometer. Key-factors affecting the wettability, self-clean ability, photocatalytic activity and antibacterial efficacy were discussed. Adding nano Cu into the glaze mixture that is rich in ZnO improves the evolution of zincite crystals, increases the specific surface energy, decreases surface roughness, provide superhydrophilicity and promotes the antibacterial effectiveness and photocatalytic activity. Superhydrophilic surfaces doped with nano Cu–ZnO display antibacterial characteristics that do not require UV or visible light. The quick achievement of complete self-cleaning, up to 100 %, is due to the presence of nano Cu particles in its structure. Hydrophilicity has the ability to improve the efficiency of photocatalysis. If a surface exhibits superhydrophilic properties, it shows exceptional photocatalytic performance. A surface that is solely photohydrophilic may not maintain self-cleaning. Hydrophilicity may be more important than photocatalysis in the self-cleaning effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photo-stimulated luminescent materials are one of the most attractive alternatives for next-generation optical information storage technologies. However, there are still some challenges in regulating appropriate energy levels of traps in luminescent materials for optical information storage. Herein, a green emission nanophosphor Zn 2 SiO 4 : Mn2+, Cr3+ with the trap depth of 1.05 eV, fulfilling the requirements for optical information storage, was fabricated for the first time through the solution combustion method and subsequent heat treatment at 1000 °C for 2 h. The crystal structure, micromorphology, photoluminescence (PL), photoluminescence excitation (PLE), and afterglow properties of Zn 2 SiO 4 : Mn2+, Cr3+ were studied systematically. By applying the strategy of trap depth engineering, high trap density with proper trap depth was observed when Cr3+ ions were introduced into Zn 2 SiO 4 : Mn2+. Thermoluminescence (TL) glow-curve analysis through the initial rise (IR) method was conducted to gain some insights into the information of traps. As proof of application, optical information storage was experimentally achieved by choosing 275 nm illumination for "information writing" and 980 nm NIR excitation for "information reading". The results indicate that Zn 2 SiO 4 : Mn2+, Cr3+ phosphor holds promise for potential applications in the field of optical information storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical coatings were elaborated by pulsed electrodeposition with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) into electrolytes on Ti 6 Al 4 V substrates, and the effect of H 2 O 2 concentration on the electrolyte and the heat treatment was studied. The experimental procedures employed in this study produce a consistent hydroxyapatite coating. This coating is well-suited for use in bio-implants, as it enhances the integration of the implant with surrounding bone tissue and improves the mechanical performance. The coatings' surface morphology and chemical composition were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) for x-ray microanalysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also utilized to identify the phases and composition of the coatings. Nanoindentation and scratch tests were conducted to analyze the nanomechanical properties and adhesion behavior. Potentiodynamic polarization was employed in the Ringer solution to evaluate the corrosion resistance and replicate the conditions of the human body environment. The results of our thorough investigation revealed that employing pulsed electrodeposition with 9 % H 2 O 2 in the electrolyte, combined with subsequent heat treatment, facilitated the creation of coatings comprising two distinct phases: stoichiometric hydroxyapatite (HAP) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). Our meticulous research underscores the significance of this process in achieving these specific coating compositions. Under these tests listed above, this composite demonstrated favorable mechanical properties (E = 30.45 GPa and H = 72.2 MPa). It also exhibited superior scratch adhesion and a critical load of 23 MPa and 12 N, respectively. Additionally, an improvement in tribological comportment was observed, and the wear volume decreased from 4.15 106 μm3 to 2.44 106 μm3. The HAP coating heat treated with 9 % H 2 O 2 exhibited the highest corrosion resistance, with E corr at −0.189 V/SCE and i corr at −1.11 μA cm−2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two distinct heat treatments, that is, intercritical quenching combined with low‐temperature tempering (QT) to control the initial quenching temperature, and salt‐bath quenching combined with partitioning (Q&P) to regulate the final quenching temperature, were employed on high‐strength low‐alloy (HSLA) steels to achieve multiphase microstructures characterized by high strength, low yield ratio, and good impact toughness. Comprehensive experiments involving tension test, low‐temperature impact, microstructural observation, and in situ tension have been conducted to compare the microstructures and mechanical properties. It is found that both kinds of specimens can achieve a good match between high strength‐toughness and low yield ratio. The microstructures are composed of lath martensite with ferrite for QT specimen and tempered martensite with bainite for the Q&P specimen, a combination of “soft” and “hard” phases thus resulting in a yield ratio lower than 0.85 for 900 MPa low‐alloy steels. Notably, the Q&P specimen exhibited a markedly superior uniform elongation of 6.1% compared to the QT counterpart of 3.2%, a phenomenon attributed to the work hardening rate during deformation. A combination of strong and weak lath structures in tempered martensite and bainite can induce dislocation propagation and the carbides can act as obstacles to dislocation motion, jointly enhancing work hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quenching and partitioning (Q&P) heat treatments have recently gained attention as promising methods for the third generation of advanced high‐strength steels, particularly in industrial applications like automotive. This study investigates the microstructural evolution during Q&P in two medium‐carbon high‐silicon and aluminum‐alloyed steels, exploring potential additional phase transformations controlling the final structure. The choice to focus on Si and Al‐ medium‐carbon steel is linked to the lower cost of these elements compared to commonly alloying elements like Ti, Cr, Mo, and V, while still achieving high mechanical properties through Q&P. The Q&P process is analyzed by varying the volume fraction of primary martensite (M1) at 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75, with partitioning temperatures ranging from 350 to 550 °C for 30 min. At 350 °C, a significant volume fraction of stabilized austenite (up to 0.3) is observed. However, concurrent reactions such as nanostructured bainite and martensite formation lead to deviations from the theoretical constrained carbon equilibrium (CCE). At higher temperatures (450–550 °C), tempering reactions, including cementite precipitation and pearlite formation, reduced the austenite final fraction. The study highlights that heat treatment design, particularly partitioning temperature, must be tailored to the specific steel composition due to the varying effects of Si and Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal manipulation during embryogenesis and early age (day 3 of rearing) on growth performance of unsexed dual-purpose chickens. The experiment was carried out in two phases: an incubation phase and a rearing phase. During the incubation phase, 1000 hatching eggs from 48-week-old Goliath breeders were used. The eggs were divided into two groups, with 500 eggs each for the control group (T0) and the group that was subjected to thermal modification (T1). Throughout embryonic days 10 to 18 (ED10 to ED18), the T1 group was subjected to 38.5°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) for six hours daily, whereas the T0 group was maintained at standard conditions. At hatch 240 chicks were collected from each heat treatment group, weighed, and transferred to the brooding chamber. Each treatment group was divided into two sub-groups (120 each) which led to 4 treatments: T0, T0', T1, and T1'. T0' and T1' were subjected again to a heat treatment of 38.5°C for 24 hours at day 3 (D3) of rearing. Each group had 6 replicates with 20 birds per pen (1 m × 1 m). Data were collected on feed intake, weight, mortality, and meat quality. Feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain (WG) and body weight (BW) were than calculated. Results showed that FCR and WG were higher in the T0' group (P < 0.05) compared to other groups. However, there was no significant difference in the antioxidant status between the groups (P > 0.05) after acute heat stress. But after the incubation and day 3 heat exposure, all the thermal manipulated groups had an improved antioxidant status (P < 0.05). Thermal manipulation did not affect the sensorial characteristics of the chicken meat, but significantly decreased the PH value in all treated groups (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was higher in the T0 group compared to the thermal manipulated groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a 6-hour heat treatment from ED10 and ED18 of embryogenesis and on the third day post-hatch can improve the growth performance of Goliath chickens without affecting meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was conducted to develop and assess the performance of composite grinding wheels enhanced with a graphite additive. These composite wheels were composed of aluminum oxide as abrasive and reinforcement material, E-glass as a reinforcement material, and phenolic resin as the matrix material. Various concentrations of graphite (4%, 8%, 12%, and 16% by weight) were incorporated into the composite formulations. Aluminum oxide, phenolic resin, and graphite were hand-stirred and combined. The mixture was then compressed at 94.4 MPa at room temperature, followed by heat treatment at 204°C for 50 min. The incorporation of graphite into Al2O3/E-glass/phenol formaldehyde composite grinding wheels significantly enhanced their mechanical properties and grinding performance. Increasing the graphite content up to 12 wt% in grinding wheels (GW3) resulted in a steady increase in density (from 1.9 g/cm³ to 2.1 g/cm³) and a corresponding decrease in porosity (from 16.5% to 3.6%) compared to the 4 wt% graphite-filled grinding wheels (GW1). Moreover, GW3 showed improvements in push-out strength by 60.6% (from 4.1 MPa to 6.57 MPa) and compressive strength by 15.7% (from 21.8 MPa to 25.17 MPa) compared to GW1. Wheels containing 16 wt% graphite (GW4) exhibited the lowest wear rate, reducing it by 89% (from 0.105 g/cm2 to 0.019 g/cm2) compared to GW1. These findings suggest that graphite incorporation is a promising approach for developing more durable and efficient grinding wheels, with the optimal graphite content for balancing strength and wear being 12 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructural evolutions and variations in mechanical performance of electron beam welded (EBW) Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) alloy have been investigated. The effects of heat treatment on the microstructure of welded samples have been studied after post-welding solution treatment and ageing. The martensitic phase α ′ has been confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has been used to investigate the phase and grain morphology. Results showed that the martensitic α′ phase coarsened, the size of heat-affected zone (HAZ) changed and grains in the base materials (BMs) had grown after the post-weld heat treatments (PWHT). The tensile behaviour of electron beam welded Ti64 has been investigated using in situ tensile testing monitored by optical microscopy. The deformation and failure were directly revealed during the in situ tensile process. Results showed that the EBW Ti64 samples have different failure locations after receiving different post-weld heat treatments. The relationship between the post-weld heat treatments, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of EBW Ti64 were investigated. Thermodynamic databases were used to predict mechanical properties—including the yield strengths—of the titanium alloy for different grain sizes, representing different post-weld heat treatment operations, and these were embedded into a finite element modelling framework to simulate the tensile testing specimens to understand the mechanical fields experienced such as stresses and strains, just prior to failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) have a significant cost advantage in resources, making their commercial application imminent. Presently, the cycling lifespan and energy density of PIBs lag behind those of lithium‐ion batteries, highlighting the crucial need for anode materials suitable for potassium storage. This paper used high‐pressure heat treatment and extraction methods to obtained toluene insoluble (TI) as a carbon matrix, followed by nickel and nitrogen co‐doping to synthesized anode materials (NiNTI). NiNTI is characterized by defect engineering such as thermal condensation polymerization and template doping, which destroys the flattening of the material, provides more active sites, forms more disordered carbon structures, generates a large number of defects and structural vacancies, and improves the electronic conductivity of NiNTI materials. In the NiNTI half‐cell configuration, operating at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, the reversible specific capacity reaches 364 mAh g−1, with an initial coulombic efficiency of 64.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present article, the abnormal grain growth behavior of 20MnCr5 hot‐rolled bars with microalloying of 0.0198 wt% niobium low‐Nb steel (LNb) and 0.0241 wt% niobium high‐Nb steel (HNb) are investigated after heat treatment at 960 °C for 4 h. The radius of the hot‐rolled bars is 22.5 mm and the results show that the mixed grain region in LNb hot‐rolled bar is with a radius ranging from 9.5 to 22.5 mm, while the mixed grain region in HNb hot‐rolled bar is with a radius of 20 to 22.5 mm. The main precipitates are AlN and NbC, particles, and their composite precipitates. In LNb and HNb, the precipitates in outer region 1 are larger than those in inner region 3, and the number density is less. In the same region, the particle size of precipitates in LNb is larger than that in HNb, and the number density is much lower. Therefore, the mixed grains appear near the outer region of the experimental steels, and the mixed grain phenomenon of LNb is more serious than that of HNb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of wood‐plastic composites (WPCs) with high filling fibers and excellent physical properties remained a great challenge. This study used Camellia oleifera shell (COS, agroforestry product waste) as raw material, and prepared 60 wt% COS/high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) WPCs using profile extrusion method through pretreating fibers including hot water, hot steam, alkali, acid, extraction, and fine fiber screening. After pretreatments, the relative contents of cellulose and lignin increased, the relative contents of hemicellulose and extract decreased significantly, and the length‐diameter ratio was improved. The flexural strength, tensile strength and impact strength of hot water and steam heat treated composites reached 31.4, 17.1 MPa and 6.9 kJ/m2, 31.8, 16.8 MPa and 6.7 kJ/m2, respectively. Compared with untreated 28.8, 14.7 MPa and 5.5 kJ/m2, the advantages were more obvious. Alkali treatment and acid treatment improved the thermal stability and residue rate of the material. Extraction treatment and alkali treatment significantly reduced the processing torque force, which was conducive to processing, while acid treatment was the opposite. The highest water absorption and thickness expansion rate were 13.75% and 3.60% respectively at 7 days after alkali treatment, which were considerably higher than 5.60% and 0.78% without treatment, while other pretreatments improved the dimensional stability of the material. Highlights: High filling Camellia oleifera shell waste/HDPE composites were prepared.Physical and chemical pretreatments improved interfacial adhesion of the composites.Heat treatments significantly improved mechanical performance of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure‐red CsPbBrxI3−x nanocrystals (NCs) light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are promising candidates for high‐performance display due to their high brightness, excellent color purity and readily tunable band gap. However, achieving highly stable pure‐red PeLEDs is still challenging due to phase segregation in the mixed halide CsPbBrxI3−x NCs. Herein, pure‐red mixed halide CsPbBrxI3−x NCs with a relatively small size are synthesized using phosphate acid as a ligand, effectively avoiding spontaneous phase separation. The strong interaction between phosphate ligands and Pb2+ facilitates the slow formation of CsPbBrxI3−x NCs, resulting in relatively small NC sizes. In addition, a dense phosphate passivation layer forms around the surface of NCs, which imparts excellent stability to the NCs against light, moisture and heat treatment. Utilizing the highly stable CsPbBrxI3−x NCs as an emission layer, pure‐red PeLEDs emitting at 633 nm, with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 10.0%, a brightness of 8231 cd m−2 and a half‐life of 393 min, are fabricated. Notably, the PeLEDs show excellent stability, with negligible changes in the emission spectra under an elevated bias voltage of 14 V. This work provides a new avenue for enhancing the performance of pure red PeLEDs through strongly coordinated phosphate ligand passivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Pomegranate is one of the most popular fruits worldwide, and it is important to maintain the overall quality and bioaccessibility of freshly squeezed pomegranate juices (PJS). The adverse effects of heat treatment on sensory properties and phytochemicals encourage the use of non‐thermal processes in the juice industry. Hereby, the effects of high‐pressure homogenization (HPH) (50, 100, and 150 MPa) on the physicochemical properties, antimicrobial activity, in vitro bioaccessibility, and antioxidant capacity of freshly‐squeezed PJS from different genotypes were investigated. Instrumental color values (L*, a*, and b*) of PJS generally decreased, while pH and aw values increased with HPH processing (p < 0.05). The antimicrobial activity of PJS was not significantly affected by HPH processing (p > 0.05). Sarıcakaya‐1 had higher bioactive constituent content and antioxidant capacity (DPPH‐ARA, ABTS‐ARA, and FRAP) than other genotypes (p < 0.05). Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity of PJS were increased by HPH treatment, whereas total anthocyanin content (TAC) and ascorbic acid content (AAC) were decreased (p < 0.05). Accordingly, HPH treatment enhanced the release of phenolics and antioxidant capacity in PJS, while largely maintaining the presence of heat‐sensitive compounds. Regardless of genotype and HPH treatment, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion adversely affected TPC, TAC, AAC, and antioxidant capacity of all PJS. However, the 150 MPa HPH treatment of Saricakaya‐1 had the highest values for TPC bioaccessibility and recovered ABTS‐ARA after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (p < 0.05). Considering the overall data, 150 MPa HPH treatment can be recommended as an innovative approach to obtain minimally processed PJS to meet new trends in consumer demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volume expansion and poor conductivity greatly limit the application of silicon as an anode for lithium-ion batteries. Although nanocrystallization of silicon and its surface carbon coating can be improved to some extent, the serious problems of particle aggregation and structural instability have not been effectively solved. In this paper, gelatin and sodium alginate (GE + SA) derived carbon/silicon composites are successfully prepared by a liquid-phase method, the freeze-drying technique, and heat treatment. Si nanoparticles (NPs) are uniformly encapsulated in a three-dimensional network of N-doped carbon that is enriched with a rich pore structure. The reversible capacity of the particular Si@C composite electrode was maintained at 580 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1, showing good cycling stability. Meanwhile, the anode also has excellent rate performance with reversible capacities of 2230, 1458, 1101, and 686.6 mA h g−1 at current densities of 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 A g−1, respectively. The GE + SA derived carbon/silicon composites effectively solve the problems of particle aggregation and an unstable carbon/silicon interface structure and can become candidates for anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing multifunctional films using layered rare earth (RE) hydroxide (LRH) nanosheets as building blocks is a popular topic. The traditional synthesis of LRH films involves four main steps: bulk crystal synthesis, intercalation of long-chain organic anions, exfoliation, and layer-by-layer self-assembly into a film. In this work, the layered gadolinium hydroxide (LGdH) film was directly synthesized via electrodeposition within 10 minutes. The effects of the synthesis conditions, including working voltage, concentration of nitrate solution, and the reaction temperature, on the structural characteristics and morphologies were investigated. In order to improve the photoluminescence performance of LGdH:RE films, the quenching groups in the LGdH structure were removed/replaced via appropriate heat treatment/anion exchange with MoO42−, based on the thermal behaviour/anion exchange properties of the LGdH, and Gd2O3:RE/NaGd(MoO4)2:RE films with enhanced photoluminescence and stability were obtained. The electrodeposition combined with heat treatment/anion exchange techniques established in this study led to the rapid synthesis of Gd2O3:RE/NaGd(MoO4)2:RE films, and could have wide implications for the generation of other types of inorganic functional films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a systematic investigation of the effects of process parameters and heat treatments on the material properties of AlSi10Mg, produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). Using a central composite design (CCD) with 106 test specimens (49 cubes, 57 tensile), the samples were studied for key properties: density (up to 99.96%), hardness (up to 154.6 HV1), surface roughness (as low as 1.9 Ra), tensile strength (up to 487.5 MPa), and elongation at break (up to 16.6%). Statistical analysis (ANOVA) identified laser power and scanning speed as the most influential parameters on these properties. Additionally, heat treatment was shown to reduce hardness and tensile strength but increase elongation at break, demonstrating the ability to modify mechanical properties based on the desired outcome. Process parameter optimization yielded properties comparable to some of the highest reported values for AlSi10Mg in the literature. The study also discusses the transferability and reproducibility of L-PBF results across different machines, highlighting challenges related to machine-to-machine variations, lack of calibration and standardization and parameter consistency. The results demonstrate the potential of L-PBF to produce AlSi10Mg parts with tailored properties for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different contents of WC particle‐reinforced 18Ni300 composites are prepared by selective laser melting method, and the tribological properties are comparatively studied before and after solution aging heat treatment. The results show that a part of WC particles are dissolved, and no obvious pore defects appear. With the increase of WC content, the microstructure gradually transforms from cellular and fine columnar α‐Fe martensite to γ‐Fe austenite. After solution aging heat treatment, the phase is transformed into acicular martensite. The grain size significantly decreases, and the Vickers hardness increases. The grain size decreases and the hardness increases with increasing WC contents. For the as‐built composite, the friction coefficient first decreases and then increases, and the wear rate first increases and then decreases with the increase of WC content. With WC content increasing, the wear rate first decreases and then increases. After heat treatment, the tribological properties are improved. The groove of the specimens before heat treatment is deep with large delaminated craters, and the wear mechanism is dominated by adhesive and abrasive wear. The grooves become shallower, and the adhesive trace becomes lighter after heat treatment. The wear mechanism is mainly adhesive wear and abrasive wear, accompanying with oxidative wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]