Dynamic charge carrier transport behavior in the zirconium (Zr) oxide was investigated based on the frequency-dependent capacitance-voltage (C-V) and temperature-dependent current-voltage (I-V) measurements. The Zr oxide was formed on the ZIRLO and newly developed zirconium-based alloy (NDZ) by corrosion in the PWR-simulated loop at 360°C. The corrosion test for 90 days showed that the NDZ exhibits better corrosion resistance than ZIRLO alloy. Based on the C-V measurement, dielectric constant values for the Zr oxide was estimated to be 11.28 and 11.52 for the ZIRLO and NDZ. The capacitance difference between low and high frequency was larger in the ZIRLO than in the NDZ, which was attributed to more mobile electrical charge carriers in the oxide layer on the ZIRLO alloy. The current through the oxide layers on the ZIRLO increased more drastically with increasing temperature than on the NDZ, which indicating that more charge trap sites exist in the ZIRLO than in NDZ. Based on the dynamic charge carrier transport behavior, it was concluded that the electrical charge carrier transport within the oxide layers was closely related with the corrosion behavior of the Zr alloys.
In this study a metal clad waveguide sensor with a metamaterial guiding layer is analyzed. Sensitivity of the proposed sensor is derived using dispersion and Fresenal’s equations for waveguiding mode and reflection mode. While efficiently analyzing and comparing the results with the existing one, some interesting findings are achieved. It is observed that the proposed sensor shows larger cover layer sensitivity and larger adlayer sensitivity compared to the dielectric guiding layer sensor due to adsorbtive properties of metamaterial. Henceforth, it concludes that the proposed sensor shows sensitivity improvement over a dielectric guiding layer sensor.
This study stacked a thin, dense BCuP-5 (Cu-Ag-P based filler metal) on a Cu-plate using the laser cladding (L.C) process to develop a method to manufacture Ag reducing multilayer clad electrical contact material with an Ag-M(O)/Ag/Cu/BCuP-5 structure. Then, the microstructure and macroscopic properties of the manufactured BCuP-5 coating layer were analyzed. The thickness of the manufactured coating layer was approximately 1.7 mm (maximum). Microstructural observation of the coating layer identified Cu, Ag and Cu-Ag-Cu3P ternary eutectic phases like those in the initial BcuP-5 powder. To evaluate the properties of the manufactured coating layer, hardness and adhesion strength tests were performed. The average hardness of the laser cladded coating layer was 183.2 Hv, which is 2.6 times greater than conventional brazed BcuP-5. The average pull-off strength measured using the stud pull test was 341.6 kg/cm2. Cross-sectional observation of the pulled-off material confirmed that the coating layer and substrate maintained a firm adhesion after pull-off. Thus, the actual adhesion strength of Cu/BcuP-5 was inferred to be greater than 341.6 kg/cm2. Based on the above findings, it was confirmed that it is possible to manufacture a sound Ag reducing multilayer clad electrical contact material using the laser cladding process.
Railway buffers during the operation are staying in almost permanent contact with each other, creating friction node in the point of contact
of two railway buffer heads. In consequence of overcoming track curves, turnouts and unevenness of track, the railway buffer heads moves
relative to each other causing friction, which results in its wear. When the wear is excessive, it might be a reason to withdrawn vehicle
from service, it causes flattening of buffer head, and in consequence its abnormal cooperation. To avoid this phenomenon the buffer heads
should be covered with graphitized grease, but this method has many disadvantages. Accordingly, it was found that it would be beneficial
to cover the buffer head with bronze using laser cladding. In this article the metallographic and mechanical analysis of the newly created
top layer of railway buffer head are presented. In article the results from tribological tests conducted on Amsler test bench are also
presented. Based on test results described in article concluded that the layer of bronze coat on working surface of railway buffer head can
be beneficial from operational point of view.
The interface characteristics, bending and impact behavior, as well as fracture characteristics of stainless steel clad plates fabricated by vacuum hot rolling at different rolling temperatures of 1100°C, 1200°C and 1300°C are investigated in detail. The interface bonding strength is gradually increased with the increasing rolling temperature due to the sufficient diffusion behavior of alloy element. The bending toughness and impact toughness are gradually decreased, while the bending strength increase with the increase of the rolling temperature, which is attributed to mechanisms of matrix softening and interface strengthening at high rolling temperature. Due to the weak interface at 1100°C, the bending and impact crack propagation path was displaced by delamination cracks, which in turn lead to reduction in stress intensity of the main crack, playing an effective role in toughening the stainless steel clad plates. Moreover, the impact fracture morphologies of clad plates show a typical ductile-brittle transition phenomenon, which is attributed to the matrix softening behavior with the increasing rolling temperature.