Sharif Digital Repository

TiO2 layers were grown via pulse type microarc oxidation process under different applied voltages, frequencies, and duty cycles. Surface chemical composition and phase structure of the synthesized layers were studied utilizing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were employed to investigate surface morphology and topography of the layers. It was revealed that the layers had a porous structure with both anatase and rutile phases. The anatase relative content in the layers increased with the applied frequency; meanwhile, it decreased with duty cycle at low applied voltages, but... 

Two-step sintering (TSS) was applied on nanocrystalline yttria tetragonal stabilized zirconia (3Y-TZP) to control the grain growth during the final stage of sintering. The process involves firing at a high temperature (T1) followed by rapid cooling to a lower temperature (T2) and soaking for a prolonged time (t). It is shown that for nanocrystalline 3Y-TZP (27 nm) the optimum processing condition is T1 = 1300 °C, T2 = 1150 °C and t = 30 h. Firing at T1 for 1 min yields 0.83 fractional density and renders pores unstable, leading to further densification at the lower temperature (T2) without remarkable grain growth. Consequently, full density zirconia ceramic with an average grain size of 110... 

S-doped TiO2 layers were grown on titanium substrates by MAO process. SEM results revealed a porous morphology with a pore size of 40-100 nm. Our XRD analysis showed that the anatase relative content reached its maximum value at the voltage of 500 V. The existence of sulfur in the states of S 4+ and S6+ which substituted Ti4+ in the titania crystalline lattice was confirmed by XPS results; meanwhile, no S 2- was detected. That is, a cationic doping was observed. EDS results showed that sulfur concentration in the layers increased with the voltage. The band gap energy was also calculated as 2.29 eV employing a UV-Vis spectrophotometer  

Sulfur doped TiO2 layers containing nano/micro-sized pores were synthesized by micro-arc oxidation process. Effect of the applied voltage and the electrolyte composition on physical and chemical properties of the layers was investigated using SEM, AFM, XRD, XPS, and EDS techniques. A UV-vis spectrophotometer was also used to study optical properties of the layers. It was found that the doped layers were porous with a pore size of 40-170 nm. They consisted of anatase and rutile phases with varying fraction depending on the applied voltage and electrolyte concentration. Our XPS investigations revealed the existence of sulfur in the forms of S4+ and S6+ states which substituted Ti4+ in the... 

V2O5-TiO2 layers with a sheet-like morphology were synthesized by micro arc oxidation process for the first time. Surface morphology and topography of the layers were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). Phase structure and chemical composition of the layers were also studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. It was revealed that the composite layers had a sheet-like structure average thickness of which was about 100 nm depending on the applied voltage. The layers consisted of anatase, rutile, and vanadium pentoxide phases fractions of which varied with the applied voltage. The optical properties... 

Micro-arc oxidation process was used to synthesize V2O5-TiO2 porous layers for the first time. Surface morphology and topography of the layers were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques were also employed to evaluate phase structure and chemical composition of the layers. It was found that the V2O5-TiO2 layers consisted of anatase, rutile, and vanadium pentoxide phases fraction of which varied with the applied voltage and the electrolyte concentration. It was also revealed that pore size and surface roughness increased with the applied voltage and the electrolyte... 

The sintering behavior of commercially available granulated ZrO2-3 mol% Y2O3 (3Y-TZP) powder compacts with an aggregate size of 75 nm was studied. The shrinkage response of the powder compacts during non-isothermal sintering was measured in a sensitive dilatometer at different heating rates. Densification and grain growth were also studied after isothermal firing in air according to different sintering cycles. The sintering and grain growth activation energy was estimated to be QS = 485 ± 12 kJ mol-1 and QG = 546 ± 23 kJ mol-1, respectively. Using the estimated Q-values, the master curves for sintering and grain growth were established and used for prediction of the densification and... 

A silicon carbide coating was formed on the surface of graphite flakes by reaction of molten Si with carbon at 1100-1300. °C in a 95%KCl-5%NaF molten salt under Ar atmosphere. The effect of temperature and Si/graphite ratio in the initial mixture on the quality and the amount of SiC were investigated by XRD and SEM/EDS analyses. Also, the water wettability, oxidation resistance and zeta potential of un-coated and coated graphite were examined by TGA analysis and sedimentation test. The results show the amount of coating to increase in the coated flakes with increasing temperature and Si/graphite ratio. The SiC coating improves water wettability of graphite and acts as a protective layer to... 

This work presents the catalytic graphitization process of phenolic resins (PR's) by addition of in situ nano-Fe particles as catalyst. Pyrolysis treatments of prepared compositions including various contents of nano-Fe particles were carried out at 600–1200 °C for 3 h under reducing atmosphere and graphitization process were evaluated by different techniques such as X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA) and Raman spectroscopy that mainly performed to identify the phase and microstructural analysis, oxidation resistance and extend of graphitized carbon... 

In the present paper, phase and microstructural characterization of low carbon MgO-C refractories with addition of Fe-catalyzed phenolic resins as binder were investigated. Initially, phenolic resin was modified using various amounts of Fe particles as catalyst originated from iron nitrate ([Fe(NO3)3·9H2O]). The MgO-C matrix compositions were prepared by using 7% of modified phenolic resin, shaped and cured at 200 °C for 24 h. The cured samples were coked in the temperature range from 800 to 1400 °C and then characterized by XRD and FE-SEM techniques. Based on attained results, in-situ graphitic carbons, particularly in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) network were gradually formed from Fe-catalyzed... 

In the present paper, phase and microstructural characterization of low carbon MgO-C refractories with addition of Fe-catalyzed phenolic resins as binder were investigated. Initially, phenolic resin was modified using various amounts of Fe particles as catalyst originated from iron nitrate ([Fe(NO3)3·9H2O]). The MgO-C matrix compositions were prepared by using 7% of modified phenolic resin, shaped and cured at 200 °C for 24 h. The cured samples were coked in the temperature range from 800 to 1400 °C and then characterized by XRD and FE-SEM techniques. Based on attained results, in-situ graphitic carbons, particularly in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) network were gradually formed from Fe-catalyzed... 

V2O5-TiO2 nanostructured porous layers were grown through micro arc oxidation of titanium in vanadate containing electrolytes. This study sheds light on the effect of the electric current type on the photocatalytic performance of the layers. Surface morphology of the layers was investigated by SEM. The results revealed a porous structure with a pores size of 30-180 nm depending on the frequency and the duty cycle. A uniform porous structure was obtained under the pulse-DC regime. Topographical investigations revealed a rough surface which is favorable for catalytic applications. Our XRD and XPS results showed that the layers consisted of anatase, rutile, and vanadium oxide phases whose... 

Very recently, we fabricated (WO3)x-(TiO 2)1-x layers via micro-arc oxidation process under different applied voltages. Morphological and topographical studies, accomplished by SEM and AFM techniques, revealed that the pores size as well as the surface roughness increased with the voltage. Phase structure and chemical composition of the layers were also investigated by XRD and XPS and the results showed the grown layers consisted of titanium and tungsten oxides. It was found that WO3 dispersed in the TiO2 matrix and also doped into the TiO2 lattice. In addition, optical properties of the synthesized layers were studied employing a UV-vis spectrophotometer. Band gap energy of the layers was... 

In this work, phase evolution, solid solution formation and diffusion behavior of three binary systems, including TaC-HfC, TaC-ZrC and HfC-ZrC, were investigated. In this regard, pure carbide powders of TaC, HfC, and ZrC were selected as starting raw materials. The prepared samples were heat treated at 2000 C for 1 hour in Ar atmosphere. For each system, three compositions were chosen for phase evolution investigation by X-ray diffractometer. Moreover, three couple samples were prepared for diffusion behavior survey through SEM/EDX analyses. It was found that ZrC diffuses faster in TaC structure rather than HfC and a single phase solid solution phase with hosting TaC is formed in TaC-HfC and... 

Ta0.8Hf0.2C ceramic has the highest melting point among the known materials (4000 °C). However, this high melting point makes the ceramic difficult to be sintered at temperatures lower than 2300 °C, pressurelessly. The purpose of this study is to consolidate Ta 0.8Hf0.2C UHTC by pressureless sintering at 2000 °C using MoSi2 as sintering aid. In this regard, effect of different amounts of MoSi2 on sintering behavior of Ta0.8Hf 0.2 UHTC was investigated. It was observed that condensation of the UHTC after sintering at 2000 °C was enhanced by increasing MoSi2 content and the highest relative density of 95% was obtained in the presence of 24 vol.% MoSi2. XRD pattern of the sintered UHTC... 

Ta0.8Hf0.2C ceramic has the highest melting point among the known materials (4000°C). Spark plasma sintering is a new route for consolidation of materials, specially ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTCs), which are difficult to be sintered at temperatures lower than 2000°C.The purpose of this study is to consolidate Ta0.8Hf0.2C by spark plasma sintering at low temperature using MoSi2 and TaSi2 as sintering aid. In this regard, effect of different amounts of sintering aids and carbides ratio on densification behavior and mechanical properties of Ta1-xHfxC were investigated.Fully consolidation of Ta0.8Hf0.2C was achieved in presence of 12vol.% sintering aid after sintering at 1650°C for 5min... 

Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite composites containing 20-50 wt.% 8YSZ were prepared on Ti/TiO2 substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD)/micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process. Titania, as an inner layer, was grown on the Ti plates using MAO treatment in order to form a strong join between substrate and HAp. These composites were produced by EPD in ethanol containing ZrO2/HAp particles at 50, 100 and 150 V in 1 min. Asprepared samples were sintered at 900, 1100 and 1300 °C. HAp, β-TCP, CaZrO3 phases were identified using X-ray diffractometry analysis (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) utilized to study the surface morphology indicated a crack free microstructure at 1300 °C  

Coating of graphite flakes with MgO/carbon nanocomposite was carried out via gaseous state reaction between mixture of Mg metal, CO gas and graphite flakes at 1000 °C. XRD and FE-SEM analysis of coating showed that the coating was comprised of MgO nano particles and amorphous carbon distributed smoothly and covered the graphite surface evenly. Thermodynamic calculations were employed to predict the reaction sequences as well as phase stability. The effect of coating on water wettability and oxidation resistance of graphite was studied using contact angle measurement and TG analysis, respectively. It was demonstrated that the reaction between Mg and CO could result in MgO/C nanocomposite...