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At least 253 records · Page 14

The effects of surface finish and grain size on the strength of sintered silicon carbide

The effects of surface treatment and microstructure, especially abnormal grain growth, on the strength of sintered SiC were studied. The surfaces of sintered SiC were treated with 400, 800 and 1200 grit diamond wheels. Grain growth was induced by increasing the sintering times at 2050 C. The beta to alpha transformation occurred during the sintering of beta-phase starting materials and was often accompanied by abnormal grain growth. The overall strength distributions were established using Weibull statistics. The strength of the sintered SiC is limited by extrinsic surface flaws in normal-sintered specimens. The finer the surface finish and grain size, the higher the strength. But the strength of abnormal sintering specimens is limited by the abnormally grown large tabular grains. The Weibull modulus increases with decreasing grain size and decreasing grit size for grinding.

You, Y. H.↗

Modeling plasma-induced surface charge effects on CO 2 activation by single atom catalysts supported on reducible and irreducible metal oxides

Abstract The accumulation of negative surface charge on catalytic surfaces in the presence of low-temperature plasma (LTP) could influence catalytic performance. However, it is difficult to disentangle the role of surface charging and other LTP catalytic effects in experiment. Herein, we use density functional theory (DFT) modeling to understand the effect of plasma-induced surface charging on CO 2 activation by atomically dispersed single atom (SA) catalysts on both reducible and irreducible metal oxide supports. We model CO 2 adsorption strength and CO 2 dissociation barriers for Co 1 , Ni 1 , Cu 1 , Rh 1 , Pd 1 , and Ag 1 SAs on both reducible and irreducible supports, namely, CeO 2 (100), TiO 2 (101), and γ -Al 2 O 3 (110), to elucidate trends. We find that accumulated surface charge on the SA increases the CO 2 adsorption strength and decreases the CO 2 dissociation barrier for all studied SA/support combinations. For both charged and uncharged (neutral) systems, SAs on the reducible CeO 2 (100) support generally adsorb CO 2 more weakly compared to when on irreducible supports like γ -Al 2 O 3 (110). SAs on γ -Al 2 O 3 (110) typically have larger barriers for CO 2 dissociation for both charged and uncharged systems compared to TiO 2 (101) and CeO 2 (100). The magnitude of surface charging effects on CO 2 binding energies and dissociation barriers depends sensitively on both the SA and the support. In some cases, the CO 2 activation trends qualitatively change between neutral and charged systems for a fixed SA across different supports. This DFT modeling study demonstrates that surface charging should be considered in strong electric fields because it can have a large effect on molecule adsorption and bond-breaking on catalytic surfaces.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A parameterization of the effect of surface roughness on microwave emission

A simple model is developed to represent the net effect of surface roughness on the microwave emission from soils. The reflectivity of a rough soil surface is defined in a theoretical model that includes both coherent and incoherent reflectivities in terms of the statistical properties of the rough surface, i.e., the surface height standard deviation and its horizontal correlation length. It is shown that the rough surface reflectivity obtained from this theoretical model can be presented in a form that is simply the reflectivity of a smooth surface attenuated by a 'rough thickness'. It is found that the rough thickness can be parameterized as a function of the statistical slope ratio of a rough surface by a simple power-law relationship. Since the slope of a rough surface can be determined experimentally, the rough thickness can be quantitatively estimated from the parametric representation. Model calculations show that this simple model can provide reasonably accurate results of predicted brightness temperatures that agree well with field measurements within experimental uncertainty.

Mo, Tsan↗

Effect of surface treatment of microfiberlated cellulose fibers on biocomposite properties and additive manufacturing process

Polymer additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly growing technology and it is transitioning to become an advanced manufacturing technique with the introduction of fiberlar reinforcing materials such as carbon and glass fibers into polymer feedstock. As a result of increasing environmental and long-term sustainability concerns, there is an increasing interest in using bio-derived cellulose fibers to reinforce composites instead of carbon and glass fibers. Melt extrusion/fused filament fabrication method is the most commonly used polymer AM technique which enables direct digital manufacturing of parts with complex geometry with a controlled anisotropic distribution of reinforcing phase. However, there are multiple factors that affect the mechanical performance of the final part such as the dispersion and orientation of the reinforcing fibers, the adhesion between the fibers and the polymer matrix, and the porosity/defects present in the part. Chemical modification of the surface of the reinforcing fibers is an effective way of improving the fiber-polymer interaction. Furthermore, the improved adhesion between the fibers and the polymer can also enhance the fiber dispersion, improve the rheological behavior of the molten feedstock and minimize the formation of porosity during the printing process, which is one of the major issues in AM. In this study, we are investigating the effect of silane surface treatment of micro-cellulose fibers on the thermal, rheological and mechanical properties of cellulose-PLA biocomposites and on the 3D-printing process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed the increase in amine and silane groups on the surface of modified fibers, indicating successful functionalization. Thermal and mechanical characterization of modified fiber-PLA composites showed significant increases in storage modulus, glass transition temperature, and complex viscosity compared to neat PLA.

Tekinalp, Halil↗

Effect of Surface Treatments on Electron Beam Freeform Fabricated Aluminum Structures

Electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) parts exhibit a ridged surface finish typical of many layer-additive processes. This, post-processing is required to produce a net shape with a smooth surface finish. High speed milling wire electrical discharge machining (EDM), electron beam glazing, and glass bead blasting were performed on EBF3-build 2219 aluminum alloy parts to reduce or eliminate the ridged surface features. Surface roughness, surface residual stress state, and microstructural characteristics were examined for each of the different surface treatment to assess the quality and effect of the surface treatments on the underlying material. The analysis evaluated the effectivenes of the different surface finishing techniques for achieving a smooth surface finish on an electron beam freeform fabricated part.

Taminger, Karen M. B.↗

Effects of surface vacancy-adatom pair formation on PFC tungsten surface morphological response

Abstract We report a simulation study of the effect of He-irradiation-induced surface vacancy-adatom pair formation on the surface morphological evolution of plasma-facing component (PFC) tungsten and examine a number of factors that impact such evolution. Our analysis is based on self-consistent dynamical simulations according to an atomistically-informed, continuum-scale surface evolution model that has been developed following a hierarchical multiscale modeling strategy and can access the spatiotemporal scales of relevance to fuzz formation. The model accounts for the flux of surface adatoms generated as a result of the surface vacancy-adatom pair formation effect upon He implantation, which contributes to the anisotropic growth of surface nanostructural features due to the different rates of adatom diffusion along and across step edges of islands on the tungsten surface. We have carried out atomic-scale computations of optimal diffusion pathways along and across island step edges on the W(110) surface and calculated Ehrlich–Schwoebel (ES) barriers in adatom diffusion along and across such step edges. This aspect of surface adatom diffusion contributes to anisotropic surface atomic fluxes, terrace and step diffusive currents, and has been incorporated into our PFC surface evolution model, which predicts the formation of preferentially aligned nanoridge stripe patterns on the PFC surface. We establish that these anisotropic diffusive currents accelerate nanotendril growth on the PFC surface and the onset of surface nanostructure pattern formation. We also explore systematically the dependence of the PFC surface morphological response on the surface temperature and He ion incident flux, characterize in detail the resulting surface topographies and growth kinetics, and compare the predicted surface morphologies with experimental observations. Our simulation predictions for the emerging surface nanostructure patterns under certain plasma exposure conditions are consistent with experimental findings in the literature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effectiveness of Surface Treatment Techniques for Composite Bonding with Different Contamination Levels

Various surface treatment techniques have been developed to promote adhesive bond performance for composite structural components in aerospace applications. The condition of the pre-bond surface is critical to achieving desirable bond quality. Contamination on bonding surfaces is well recognized as a major threat to ultimate bond performance. Variation in contamination level has brought additional challenges into manufacturing process control. High fidelity surface treatment techniques are required for effective removal of contaminants over a wide range of contamination levels. In this study, a common contaminant, i.e. silicone mold release, was introduced to pre-bond composite surfaces with different concentrations. Plasma and laser surface treatment techniques were performed and their effectiveness in restoring and enhancing desirable bond quality was investigated. Surface characterization techniques, including water contact angle goniometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were conducted to assess the condition of contaminated surfaces and the improvement induced by plasma and laser surface treatments. Failure modes from a customized double cantilever beam test were investigated before and after surface treatments. Fundamental mechanisms of plasma and laser surface treatments on the composite bonding surfaces were also investigated.

Fang, Xiaomei↗

The surface-brightness-effective-size relation for elliptical galaxies in the cores of clusters

Surface photometry of 372 elliptical galaxies has been performed using CCD images of the centers of 97 nearby rich Abell clusters. The strong correlation between surface brightness and effective size, originally found by Kormendy (1977), is clear in the data. Brightest cluster galaxies show much less scatter about the mean relation defined by these data than do lower-luminosity cluster ellipticals, and the slope of the relation is shallower for the brightest galaxies; these two results are tentative, however, because of uncertain selection and environmental effects. When combined with published central velocity dispersions, the photometry yields a relation for brightest cluster galaxies that is in good agreement with the mean relation for elliptical galaxies found by Djorgovski and Davis (1987). Use of the surface-brightness/scale-length relation to measure the lookback luminosity evolution of the stellar content in galaxies is promising.

Hoessel, J. G.↗

Effects of surface perturbations on the asymmetric vortex flow over a slender body

An experimental investigation of the effects of surface perturbations on the asymmetric flow past a slender body has been conducted for laminar flow conditions. Beads with diameters ranging from 3/32 to 12/32 in. were attached near the apex of a cone/cylinder model having a base diameter of 3.5 in. and a cone semiapex angle of 9 deg at an angle of attack of 40 deg in an attempt to alter the sense of the asymmetric vortex flow pattern. Circumferential position as well as longitudinal location were varied to determine the most effective bead position. Whether or not the beads were effective in controlling the magnitude and direction of the vortex asymmetries was determined by 3 circumferential rows of pressure taps and by a helium-bubble flow visualization technique. The most effective circumferential position was found to be approximately 140 deg from the windward ray. While holding this circumferential position constant, the effect of bead size at three stations further along the body was also investigated. It was found that the size of the bead necessary to reverse the asymmetry increased more rapidly than the growth in cylinder radius. In general, these results indicate that discrete geometric imperfections on a body's surface can force asymmetry in a given direction if they are sufficiently large relative to the local radius.

Moskovitz, Cary A.↗

Multi-Decadal Change of Atmospheric Aerosols and their Effects on Surface Radiation

We present an investigation on multi-decadal changes of atmospheric aerosols and their effects on surface radiation using a global chemistry transport model along with the near-term to long-term data records. We focus on a 28-year time period of satellite era from 1980 to 2007) during which a suite of aerosol data from satellite observations) ground-based measurements) and intensive field experiments have become available. We analyze the long-term global and regional aerosol trends and their relationship to the changes of aerosol and precursor emissions and assess the role aerosols play in the multi-decadal change of solar radiation reaching the surface (known as "dimming" or "brightening") at different regions of the world) including the major anthropogenic source regions (North America) Europe) Asia) that have been experiencing considerable changes of emissions) dust and biomass burning regions that have large interannual variabilities) downwind regions that are directly affected by the changes in the source area) and remote regions that are considered to representing "backgroundH conditions.

Chin, Mian↗

Multi-Decadal Change of Atmospheric Aerosols and their Effect on Surface Radiation

We present an investigation on multi-decadal changes of atmospheric aerosols and their effects on surface radiation using a global chemistry transport model, GOCART, along with the near-term to long-term data records. We focus on a 28-year time period of satellite era from 1980 to 2007 during which a suite of aerosol data from satellite observations, ground-based measurements, and intensive field experiments have become available. Particularly: (1) We compare the model calculated clear sky downward radiation at the surface with surface network data from BSRN and CMA (2) We compare the model and surface data with satellite derived downward radiation products from ISCCP and SRS (3) We analyze the long-term global and regional aerosol trends in major anthropogenic source regions (North America, Europe, Asia) that have been experiencing considerable changes of emissions during the three decades, dust and biomass burning regions that have large interannual variability, downwind regions that are directly affected by the changes in the source area, and remote regions that are considered to representing "background" conditions. The comparisons and methods from this study can be applied to multiple model analysis in the AeroCom framework.

Chin, Mian↗

Multi-decadal Change of Atmospheric Aerosols and their Effect on Surface Radiation

We present an investigation on multi-decadal changes of atmospheric aerosols and their effects on surface radiation using a global chemistry transport model GOCART along with the near-term to long-term data records. We focus on a 28-year time period of satellite era from 1980 to 2007 during which a suite of aerosol data from satellite observations, ground-based measurements, and intensive field experiments have become available. Particularly: (1) We compare the model calculated clear sky downward radiation at the surface with surface network data from Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) and CMA (2) We compare the model and surface data with satellite derived downward radiation products from ISCCP and SRB (3) We analyze the long-term global and regional aerosol trends in major anthropogenic source regions (North America, Europe, Asia) that have been experiencing considerable changes of emissions during the three decades, dust and biomass burning regions that have large interannual variability, downwind regions that are directly affected by the changes in the source area, and remote regions that are considered to representing "background" conditions.

Chin, Mian↗

Multi-Decadal Change of Atmospheric Aerosols and Their Effect on Surface Radiation

We present an investigation on multi-decadal changes of atmospheric aerosols and their effects on surface radiation using a global chemistry transport model along with the near-term to long-term data records. We focus on a 28-year time period of satellite era from 1980 to 2007, during which a suite of aerosol data from satellite observations and ground-based remote sensing and in-situ measurements have become available. We analyze the long-term global and regional aerosol optical depth and concentration trends and their relationship to the changes of emissions" and assess the role aerosols play in the multi-decadal change of solar radiation reaching the surface (known as "dimming" or "brightening") at different regions of the world, including the major anthropogenic source regions (North America, Europe, Asia) that have been experiencing considerable changes of emissions, dust and biomass burning regions that have large interannual variabilities, downwind regions that are directly affected by the changes in the source area, and remote regions that are considered to representing "background" conditions.

Chin, Mian↗

A prescription for the asteroseismic surface correction

In asteroseismology, the surface effect refers to a disparity between the observed and the modelled frequencies in stars with solar-like oscillations. It originates from improper modelling of the surface layers. Correcting the surface effect usually requires using functions with free parameters, which are conventionally fitted to the observed frequencies. On the basis that the correction should vary smoothly across the H–R diagram, we parameterize it as a simple function of surface gravity, effective temperature, and metallicity. We determine this function by fitting a wide range of stars. The absolute amount of the surface correction decreases with luminosity, but the ratio between it and νmax increases, suggesting the surface effect is more important for red giants than dwarfs. Applying the prescription can eliminate unrealistic surface correction, which improves parameter estimations with stellar modelling. Using two open clusters, we found a reduction of scatter in the model-derived ages for each star in the same cluster. As an important application, we provide a new revision for the Δν scaling relation that, for the first time, accounts for the surface correction. The values of the correction factor, f Δν , are up to 2 percent smaller than those determined without the surface effect considered, suggesting decreases of up to 4 percent in radii and up to 8 percent in masses when using the asteroseismic scaling relations. This revision brings the asteroseismic properties into an agreement with those determined from eclipsing binaries. The new correction factor and the stellar models with the corrected frequencies are available at https://www.github.com/parallelpro/surface.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗