This paper presents several key aspects of our approach to preparing artificially induced [001] tilt grain boundaries (GB's) with uniform, well-defined structures in YBa2Cu3Oy (YBCO) superconductors. GB structures formed in thin film and bulk bicrystals, respectively, will be compared. In YBCO thin film bicrystals, meandering rather than planar GB's are formed. Using a low film deposition rate has been demonstrated to reduce the magnitude of meander significantly, but complete elimination of the meander has not yet been accomplished. Thus, we have developed a dual-seeded-melt-texture process to produce uniform, planar GB's with controllable misorientation angles in YBCO bulk bicrystals. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies reveal a remarkably planar and simple configuration on different length scales. Such a simple structure allows for an insightful interpretation of transport behavior across individual GB's.

Using a processing route that employed platinum crucibles, single phase ceramics of Pb(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 (PMT) relaxor ferroelectrics were prepared with densities greater than 95% of their theoretical value. The improvements in the sintering characteristics of this system that result from this route were reflected by the dielectric properties, at 182 K, which are similar to those reported for single crystal PMT. Contrast originating from nanosized polar clusters was evident in dark-field TEM images collected from the PMT ceramics at room temperature and showed little change upon cooling through the permittivity maximum. The electron diffraction patterns contained weak superlattice reflections at (h ± 1/2, k ± 1/2, l ± 1/2) that originate from a 1: 1 ordering of the B-site cations. High resolution imaging indicated that the length scale of the chemical ordering in PMT is essentially identical to niobate relaxors such as PMN, with the 1–2 nm ordered domains being surrounded by a disordered matrix.

The RBAO (Reaction Bonded Aluminum Oxide) process and water-based gel casting were combined to produce alumina platelet reinforced RBAO composites. In the RBAO process, a precursor powder mixture of Al metal and Al2O3 is reacted to form 100% ceramic. To obtain composites in which the platelets are highly aligned, tapes consisting of 10 vol.% homogeneously distributed alumina platelets and 90 vol.% RBAO precursor powder were made by water-based gel casting using an extended doctor blade arrangement. Pellets of textured composites were subsequently prepared by stacking sheets cut from the green tapes, and filter pressing. Randomly oriented platelet composites were made using the same starting powders and gelling procedure, but without the tape-casting step. Reaction bonding was carried out in a box furnace in air. Microstructures of the composites were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of platelet orientation on contact damage behavior was studied using a Hertzian indentation method. It was found that the textured composite exhibited improved damage resistance compared to the random composite.

Nanometer-sized In particles (5−45 nm) embedded in the Al matrix were prepared by using melt-spinning and ball-milling techniques. Different crystallographic orientationships between In nanoparticles and the Al matrix were constructed by these two approaches. Melting behavior of the In particles were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that the epitaxially oriented In nanoparticles (with the Al matrix) in the melt-spun sample were superheated to about 0−38 °C, whereas the randomly oriented In particles in the ball-milled sample melted below its equilibrium melting point by about 0−22 °C. We suggest that the melting temperature of In nanoparticles can be either enhanced or depressed, depending on the epitaxy between In and the Al matrix.

The corrosion characteristics of a-C:H/fluorocarbon composite films deposited on type 301 stainless steel substrates were investigated using potentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The films were deposited by radio frequency (13.56 MHz) plasma deposition from different mixtures of hexafluoroethane, acetylene, and argon. A 10 nm thick polysilicon film was plasma-deposited prior to a-C:H film deposition to improve adhesion. The anodic current densities recorded with all the coated samples, in an electrolyte consisting of 0.1 M NaCl and 0.1 M Na2SO4 at 1.5 V (Standard Calomel Electrode), were at least three orders of magnitude less than that for a bare steel sample. They were also at least 20 times less than that obtained with diamond-like carbon film-coated substrates. EIS spectra obtained for these samples, while exposed to 0.6 M NaCl solution over an extended period of time (30–40 days), confirm their barrier properties. All the coatings showed near capacitive behavior in the frequency range 10 mHz–4 KHz.

Nanophase particles with precisely controlled characteristics are made by oxidation of their halide vapors in electrically assisted hydrocarbon flames using needle-shaped or plate electrodes. The particle size and crystallinity decrease with increasing field strength across the flame. The field generated by the electrodes across the flame decreases the particle residence time in the high temperature region of the flame. Furthermore, it charges the newly formed particles, resulting in electrostatic repulsion and dispersion that decreases particle growth by coagulation. Electric fields reduced the primary particle size of TiO2, the agglomerate size of SnO2, and both the agglomerate and primary size of SiO2.

Nanoparticles of yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline ceramics (Y-TZP) with an average crystallite size of less than 9 nm were prepared by a combustion synthesis process. Dense and fine-grained (<200 nm) Y-TZP ceramics were obtained by fast-firing using temperatures lower than 1400 °C and dwell times of less than 2 min. Impedance spectroscopy was employed to measure conductivities of oxygen vacancies in the grain and the grain boundary of the fine-grained Y-TZP. The relationships between the concentration of the oxygen vacancies in the grain boundary and measurable physical parameters were determined semiquantitatively. The oxygen vacancy concentrations and activation energies for the oxygen-ion conduction in the grain and the grain boundary of the fine-grained Y-TZP were found to be independent of the average grain size in the average grain-size range of 90–200 nm. These experimental results suggest that, in order to retain the abnormally high oxygen vacancy concentrations of the Y-TZP nanoparticles and thus enhance the oxygen-ion conductivity, it may be necessary to decrease the average grain size to approximately 10 nm.

The growth of the shells of C60 crystals was carried out under various conditions. The detailed structures of the grown shells were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The shells were formed during thermal sublimation of the C60 crystals, which were irradiated with white light in air. The shells were mainly composed of a kind of amorphous carbon. From these results, it is suggested that the oxygen-induced disintegration of C60 cages is responsible for the shell formation.

In-flight modification of MoSi2 powders has been carried out by using an Ar–H2 induction plasma. Reactor pressure, powder feed rate, and plate power level were taken as the experimental parameters to alter the thermal history of the injected powder particles. Metastable hexagonal structure of β–MoSi2 is the major phase observed in the Ar–H2 induction plasma-treated molybdenum disilicide powders, while the stable phase of tetragonal structure of α–MoSi2 usually retains no less than 30 wt. %. Depending on the experimental condition and the deviation from stoichiometry in raw materials, low silicides, Mo5Si3 and Mo3Si, and free Si were observed,

Ca-modified spherical palladium particles were prepared from the mixed solution of Pd(NO3)2 and Ca(NO3)2 by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. Pure palladium powder and that modified with less than 55 ppm Ca were composed of single crystal particles. However, Ca addition of more than 500 ppm resulted in polycrystalline particles. Crystallite size of the particles decreased with the increase of Ca addition and changed dramatically at the addition of some hundred ppm. Ca additive did not form solid solution with palladium but formed CaPd3O4 on the surface and grain boundary of the particles. 50 ppm−1% of Ca addition significantly reduced the oxidation of palladium powder. More addition of Ca resulted in excess oxidation due to the reaction between palladium and calcium oxide.

The influence of elemental B addition on the heat-treated cast structure of Ti–47Al–2Cr–(2–4)Nb alloys has been investigated using x-ray diffractometry, optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and tensile testing. The phase sequence is β → β + α → α → α + γ → α + β + γ → β + γ. The addition of (0–2 at. %) B does not change the phase sequence. It, however, tends to stabilize α phase by shifting the (α + β + γ) three-phase region toward a higher (Cr + Nb) content. The B addition does not significantly alter the equilibrium composition within (α + γ) two-phase field. The B addition markedly accelerates the lamellar formation kinetics and enhances the thickening rate of γ plates, despite the fact that it increases both the misfit between α and γ plates and the α/γ interfacial energy. The acceleration of lamellar formation kinetics is thus believed to be primarily due to the enhancement of chemical diffusivity as a result of B addition. The B addition induces a significant refinement of heat-treated cast structure. This is primarily due to the role of boride to disperse the interdendritic γ regions to a fine network and to refine the dendrite cell size. Further refinement arises from the boride's role to act as the nucleation site for γ grains and from the intrinsic B effect to enhance the chemical diffusivity and the γ thickening rate. The addition of a small amount of B enhances both the strength and tensile ductility of near gamma structure. The strengthening arises from grain size refinement and from the boride dispersion. The calculation of fracture strain suggests that an enhancement of ductility for small B addition (up to ∼0.2 at. %) is mostly due to its effect to refine the γ grains.

The Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) equation is frequently used to describe phase transformations involving nucleation and growth. The assumptions used in the derivation of this equation, however, are frequently violated when making experimental measurements; use of the JMAK equation for analyzing such data can often produce invalid results. Finite-size effects are among the most serious of these problems. We present modified analytic JMAK equations that correct for the finite-size effects and are roughly independent of both the sample shape and the shape of the growing nuclei. A comparison with computer simulations shows that these modified JMAK equations accurately reproduce the growth behavior over a wide range of conditions.

The lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films were fabricated using sol-gel spin coating onto Pt/Ti/glass substrates. Effects of the holding time for pyrolysis and the coating cycle on the preferred orientation of the PZT thin films were studied. The films were fabricated with different coating cycles (3, 5, 7, 9, 11), dried at 330 °C for different holding times (5, 30, 60 min), and then annealed at the same temperature of 650 °C using rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The preferred orientations of the films were investigated using x-ray diffraction and glancing angle x-ray diffraction. The microstructure and the selected area diffraction pattern of the PZT thin films were also investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively.

A new methodology for mapping thermal diffusivity using a photothermal deflection method is introduced. Two case studies are made: fiber-reinforced composite structures and contact damage zones in alumina. In the former, characterization of thermal microstructural features is demonstrated; in the latter, microcrack density is quantified. Experimental data are analyzed and compared with literature results. Advantages and limitations of the technique are discussed.

Carbon fibrous deposits grown in carbon dc electric arc at various buffer gas pressures and arc currents were investigated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The fibers contained in the deposits consisted of bundles of carbon tubes. It was found that yield and morphology were very sensitive to both parameters; sintering of the tubes could be prevented by adjusting buffer gas pressure for a given current. It is argued that these parameters control expansion of carbon gas and condensation rate, and therefore energy flow to the cathode. To purify samples by oxidation and to observe differences in resistance against oxidation of samples obtained at various conditions, the thermogravimetry method was used.

The structures of interfaces in NiAl-matrix in situ composites reinforced by TiC particulates were studied by means of high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM). No consistent orientation relationship between TiC particles and the NiAl matrix was found. In most cases, TiC particles bonded well to the NiAl matrix free from any interfacial phases. However, in some cases, an interfacial amorphous layer with a thickness of about 3 nm was found. The annealed NiAl–TiC composite showed a good chemical compatibility between the TiC particles and the NiAl matrix, though, some interfacial layers between TiC and NiAl, which were determined to be C-deficient TiC, were found. NiAl precipitates were observed in the TiC particles of the annealed specimens.

Brillouin light scattering was used to obtain the elastic and piezoelectric constants for tetragonal PbTiO3 single crystals at room temperature. Approximately 170 measurements of longitudinal and transverse acoustic wave velocities were inverted using literature dielectric constant values to obtain the full set of elastic and piezoelectric constants. Our data indicate a greater electromechanical anisotropy in the polar c direction than previously reported, but are otherwise in general agreement with previous studies. We discuss briefly the degree to which individual elastic and piezoelectric constants are resolved.

Using a seeded melt growth (SMG) method, we have produced single-domain YBa2Cu3Ox with high levitation forces and trapped magnetic fields. A threshold temperature TL has been found above which extraneous nucleation does not occur. Surface nucleation has been suppressed when the top sample surface is coated with low melting compounds. The planar growth rates along the a- and c-axes have been found to be comparable within the undercooling range used in this study, and agree well with the current model. Major factors that strongly influence the levitation force have been studied in detail including domain geometry and orientation. Current physical models have been used to interpret the observed levitation force behaviors.

The phase formation and microstructural development of SrBi2Ta2O9 thin films prepared via spin-coating using metalorganic solution on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates have been investigated in this study. The spun-on films started to crystallize from above 550 °C and were well crystallized at 800 °C. At higher than 850 °C a secondary phase having a pyrochlore structure was formed in the films. The analysis of EDS and SIMS confirmed that the interaction between the films and the titanium species which diffused outward from the titanium layer on substrates was the origin for the occurrence of the pyrochlore phase. In addition, varying the thickness of the coated films and platinum layers had remarkable influence on the formation amount of the pyrochlore phase.

Alumina/silicon carbide nanocomposites with 5 vol.% SiC nanoparticles were produced by slip casting, pressureless sintering, and hot isostatic pressing. The grain size dependence of both the bend strength and fracture toughness have been investigated. The strength exceeds 1 GPa at a grain size of 1.7 μm. Crack opening displacements (COD) were measured, revealing that crack tip toughness is considerably lower than in pure alumina and an R-curve behavior is unlikely to occur. By introducing artificial pores with a size of 60 μm, the micromechanical fracture process has been studied in both pure alumina and nanocomposites. In contrast to alumina, where an annular precrack forms prior to fracture, it is suggested that precrack formation is strongly impeded in the nanocomposites and failure is controlled by microcrack initiation. The high strength of Al2O3/SiC nanocomposites seems to be the result of an unusually high crack initiation stress.