| 1. |
- Grolig, Jan Gustav, 1986
(författare)
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Coated Ferritic Stainless Steels as Interconnects in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells - Material Development and Electrical Properties
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are attracting increasing interest as devices with potentialuses in decentralized and clean electricity and heat production. Several challengeswith respect to materials have to be overcome to achieve efficiencies and life-spansthat are sufficient for long-term applications.An important element of an SOFC stack is the interconnect component, which connectstwo adjacent fuel cell elements. Interconnects, which are commonly composedof ferritic stainless steels, have to be corrosion-resistant, mechanically stable and costoptimized.This work aimed to investigate economic solutions for interconnect materials and tounderstand the underlying mechanisms of degradation and electrical conduction ofthese materials. Mainly two substrates, a commercially available steel (AISI 441) anda ferritic stainless steel that was optimized for an SOFC application (Sandvik SanergyHT) were combined with different barrier coatings and exposed to a cathode-sideatmosphere. A method was developed that allows for the electrical characterizationof promising material systems and model alloys, thereby facilitating a fundamentalunderstanding of the dominant electrical conduction processes linked to the oxidescales that grow on interconnects. The AISI 441 steel coated with reactive elementsand cobalt showed good corrosion and chromium evaporation profiles, while AISI 441coated with cerium and cobalt also had promising electrical properties. The SanergyHT steel was examined with coatings of copper and iron and copper and manganese,respectively. The corrosion and chromium evaporation profiles of Sanergy HT wereimproved by coating with copper and iron. The copper and iron-coated Sanergy HTshowed lower area specific resistance values than cobalt-coated Sanergy HT. Chromia,which is the main constituent of oxide scales, was synthesized using differentmethods. The electrical properties of chromia were found to be sensitive to not onlyimpurities, but also heat treatment. Finally the electrical properties of cobalt- andcobalt cerium-coated Sanergy HT steels were investigated. It was revealed that theaddition of cerium improved the conductivity of the interconnect by both slowingdown chromia growth and preventing the outward diffusion of iron into the spinel.
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| 2. |
- André, Benny
(författare)
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Nanocomposites for Use in Sliding Electrical Contacts
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this thesis nanocomposite materials for use in high performance electrical contacts are tested. Self mating silver as coatings on cupper substrates are the most used material combination in power connectors today. In this work two new concepts were tested. The first one was to change one of the mating surfaces to a hard thin coating and keep the other surface made of silver. Tested coatings were nanocomposites with hard carbides in a matrix of amorphous carbon. TiC/a-C and Ti-Ni-C/a-C were tested both electrically and tribologically. The total amount of carbon and the amount of carbon matrix was important, both for the electrical and the tribological properties. The Ti-Ni-C coating also showed that substituting Ti in TiC with the weak carbide former Ni changed the stability of the carbides. The substitution resulted in more a-C matrix and less C in the carbides. Thin coatings of nc-TiC/a-C and Ti-Ni-C/a-C showed high potential as material candidates for use in electrical contacts. The other tested concept was to modify the used silver instead of replacing it. This was done by embedding nanoparticles of solid lubricant IF-WS2 in the silver. The results from reciprocating sliding displayed low friction and high wear resistance. The modified silver surfaces lasted for 8000 strokes with a friction of about 0.3 while at the same time allowing for a low contact resistance. The results for surfaces of pure silver coating displayed a friction of 0.8-1.2 and that the silver was worn through already after 300 strokes. A new method to investigate inherent hardness and residual stress of thin coatings, on complex geometries or in small areas, was also developed. An ion beam was used to create stress free coating as free standing micro pillars. Hardness measured on the pillars and on as-deposited coating were then used to calculate the residual stress in the coatings.
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| 3. |
- He, Wenxiao, 1985
(författare)
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Biomimetic Formation of Calcium Phosphate Based Nanomaterials
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The intercellular material in bone is a nanocomposite of aligned “hard” inorganics—calcium phosphate (CaP) platelets embedded in the long-range ordered “soft” organic collagen matrix. This elaborate structural arrangement redeems the weaknesses of the individual components (being soft protein or brittle mineral) and gives bone its excellent mechanical properties for the protection and support of our bodies. The structural order and hierarchy in the soft matrix is organized via self-assembly of collagen molecules and is reinforced by intermolecular crosslinking. The subsequent growth of “hard” crystallites inside the “soft” matrix compartments, likely through the deposition of a transient amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) phase, results in the interpenetrated composite structure.The aim of this thesis was to prepare synthetic mimetics of “hard” material (CaP) with well-defined nanostructures, soft organic matrices with long-range order and interpenetrated composites composing of the two. The work was inspired by the material deposition process in natural bone. Lyotropic liquid crystal (LC) phases self-assembled by block copolymers were used to mimic the structural order of the collagen matrix. Both the inorganic morphogenesis of CaP in LCs and the controlled crystallization of ACP were investigated. To explore ordered organic matrices, crosslinking of the LCs and the self-assembly of an amphiphilic peptide with designed sequence were performed. In addition, controlled mineralization within crosslinked LCs was examined for the formation of nanocomposites.ACP nanospheres, CaP nanowires and nanosheets were prepared from LCs via templated growth. The ACP nanospheres were capable of transforming into bone-like apatite by controlled aging in water and the prepared nanoparticles were shown to affect osteoblast gene expression. Dicalcium phosphate crystals (brushite and monetite) with structural hierarchy and distinct features were also grown in LCs through epitaxial overgrowth or a self-organization regime. Polymerized LCs were successfully prepared from a modified block copolymer (diacrylate derivative of Pluronic® F127), which served as a resilient matrix for the deposition of ACP nanospheres. A subsequent in situ crystallization of ACP into bone-like apatite resulted in mechanically stable composites retaining nanostructures that resembled that of natural bone. An amphiphilic peptide was designed using mainly natural amino acids and it was shown to self-assemble into distinct structures at different concentrations. Based upon the results presented in this thesis, nanomaterials with assorted structures can be further designed for bio-related applications.
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| 4. |
- Johansen, Marcus, 1994
(författare)
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Atoms in Lithiated Carbon Fibres
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Carbon fibres are key constituents of structural batteries, in which electrochemical energy storage and mechanical load bearing are merged in one multifunctional device. Here carbon fibres simultaneously act as structural reinforcement by carrying load and as battery electrode by hosting lithium (Li)-ions in its microstructure. However, conventional carbon fibres are not designed to be multifunctional. To enable carbon fibres with optimised multifunctional capabilities, a fundamental understanding of their microstructure, chemical information and interaction with Li is required. In this thesis, mass spectrometry and electron spectroscopy techniques are developed and used to elucidate the atomic distribution, configuration, and interaction in commercial carbon fibres used in structural batteries. Here the methodology of analysing Li in carbon fibres with atom probe tomography (APT) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) is demonstrated. Synchrotron-based hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) reveals that certain chemical states of N heteroatoms, pyridinic and pyrrolic, are connected to enhanced electrochemical performance of carbon fibres. AES shows that: Li distributes throughout the entire carbon fibre; the amount of trapped Li is higher and concentrated towards the centre of the fibre at increased discharge rates; Li is initially inserted in amorphous domains and with increased states of lithiation in crystalline domains; and Li plating can occur on individual fibres without spreading to adjacent fibres. APT on lithiated carbon fibres shows that: the distribution of Li is independent of the distribution of N heteroatoms; trapped Li is distributed uniformly in all domains; and Li agglomerates at elevated states of lithiation. The work presented in this thesis paves the way for analysis of carbon-based battery materials with APT and AES. Furthermore, the work unveils much of the interplay between carbon fibre and Li and deepens the understanding of the design parameters for tailoring multifunctional carbon fibres used in improved structural batteries.
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| 5. |
- Lozinko, Adrianna, 1992
(författare)
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Microstructure development and mechanical properties of cast and thermo-mechanically treated eutectic high-entropy alloys
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The recently emerging high-entropy alloys (HEAs) present a novel alloying strategy, significantly expanding the scope of metal alloy design. Single-phase HEAs, nevertheless, suffer from the strength-ductility trade off as seen in conventional metallic materials. A possible solution is found in the recently developed eutectic HEAs (EHEAs), which borrow the concept of using lamellar structures as in-situ composites to balance mechanical properties. The first such alloy, AlCoCrFeNi2.1, with an FCC(L12) + BCC(B2) lamellar microstructure, remains the most studied EHEA. Despite much work put into its characterization, much remains to be understood. For example, more efforts have been given to optimize the mechanical properties while less are given to quantitatively describe the microstructure. Various thermo-mechanical treatments have been used to modify the mechanical properties of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1 alloy, however, previous studies mainly focused on the fully recrystallized materials, while a clear understanding of the recrystallization process is still missing, and the potential of partial recrystallization remains to be explored. The first part of this thesis work focuses on the as-cast microstructures of the eutectic and near-eutectic compositions of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1 system. Quantification of the phase volume and lamellar spacing is performed as a function of the Ni content. Orientation relationship and misorientation angle-axis changes in the five investigated alloys are also studied, with the previously unknown dependency of misorientation angle on the Ni content revealed. Some attention is also given to irregular microstructures in eutectic and near-eutectic compositions, which have not been discussed in previous studies. In the second part of this thesis work, a systematic study of the recrystallization process and the correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties in the thermo-mechanically treated AlCoCrFeNi2.1 alloy is undertaken. Distinctive behavior of the constituent phases during recrystallization, with varying rates of recrystallization and grain growth are observed, providing new insights to the recrystallization process in this alloy. Furthermore, it is shown that by controlling the annealing temperature and time, hetero-deformation induced hardening could lead to abnormal hardening in the as-rolled alloy, providing a new strategy to achieve high-strength with acceptable ductility in EHEAs.
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| 6. |
- Lund, Anja
(författare)
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Melt spun piezoelectric textile fibres : an experimental study
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Melt Spun Piezoelectric Textile Fibres - an Experimental Study ANJA LUND Department of Materials and Manufacturing Technology Chalmers University of Technology ABSTRACT The manufacturing and characterisation of piezoelectric textile fibres are described in this thesis. A piezoelectric material is one that generates an electric voltage when deformed, a property which exists in a number of materials. The polymer with the strongest known piezoelectric effect today is poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), however it must be processed under certain conditions to become piezoelectric. This study shows that piezoelectric bicomponent PVDF-based fibres can be produced by melt spinning, which is a common and relatively simple fibre spinning method. The melt spinning process must include cold drawing, as this introduces a polar crystalline structure in the polymer. The fibres must also be electroded, which is done by producing bicomponent fibres with a core-and-sheath structure. The core is electrically conductive and constitutes an inner electrode consisting of a carbon black/polymer compound, whereas the sheath is PVDF and constitutes the piezoelectric component. Being sensitive to both deformation and temperature changes, these fibres are anticipated to be useful in a number of sensor applications. The flexibility and small size of the fibres makes it possible to include them as miniature-sensors in structures or garment without affecting the shape or comfort.
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| 7. |
- Nikas, Dimitrios, 1984
(författare)
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Influence of combined thermal and mechanical loadings on pearlitic steel microstructure in railway wheels and rails
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- One of the most important aspects in railway operation is the interaction between rail and wheel. The contact patch between these two components is around the size of a small coin, and since high loads act on this small area, stresses will give rise to wear and damage in both components. Frictional forces on the surface of wheels and rails caused by recurring train acceleration, braking, curving and occasional slippage can cause cyclic plastic deformation and heating, which in turn causes an aligned, anisotropic microstructure with altered mechanical behaviour. Control of material property degradation is an important topic for guiding maintenance, as well as ensuring safety of railways, since it will allow for a more accurate prediction of material wear and lifetime. The thesis focuses on the mechanical properties of railway wheel and rail steels after exposure to elevated temperatures and plastic deformation. Specifically examined are the carbon wheel steels, UIC ER7T and ER8T (~0.55 wt. %C) and rail steel R260 (~0.72 wt. %C). During their service life, the surface layers of rails and wheels are subjected to very high rolling contact loads. These lead to accumulation of large shear strains close to the running surface. Moreover the high thermal loads that wheels experience when block brakes are used can cause severe degradation of the material microstructure, more specifically spheroidisation of the pearlite, which combined with plastic deformation (that makes the material more prone to spheroidisation) can lead to severe deterioration of the material’s mechanical properties. Both un-deformed and pre-strained wheel materials were heat treated at various temperatures from 250°C to 600°C for various durations, and the change in room temperature hardness was analysed. Additionally, Electron Backscatter Diffraction Analysis (EBSD) was used to evaluate if orientation gradients in the pearlitic colonies affect the spheroidisation of the pearlitic microstructure, that is observed at higher temperatures. Uniaxial (tension-compression) and biaxial (including torsion) low cycle fatigue tests were performed to study the behaviour of R7T and R8T material at different temperatures. The influence of hold times as well as the ratchetting behaviour with mean stress effects were also studied. Virgin rail material was twisted using a biaxial machine to various shear strain levels to create a microstructure representative for the surface layer observed in field samples. The microstructure was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and hardness measurements. The results showed that wheel material hardening due to strain ageing takes place at around 300°C while microstructural degradation caused softening at higher temperatures. Spheroidisation of the pearlite started to become visible at 450°C for the un-deformed material and at around 400°C for the pre-strained. The spheroidised areas appear to have lost their initial orientation gradients after spheroidisation and obtain a more uniform orientation. Cyclic tests at elevated temperature revealed cyclic hardening at around 300°C, as an effect of dynamic strain ageing. At higher temperatures, cyclic softening followed due to a combination of increasing thermal activation and spheroidisation. Biaxial testing showed a more severe effect of strain hardening and shorter fatigue life. For the rail material, the dislocation density was found to increase with increasing shear strain. The flow stresses calculated using microstructural parameters such as dislocation density and interlamellar spacing of the pearlite seem to agree well with those evaluated from hardness measurements.
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| 8. |
- Forsgren, Lilian, 1990
(författare)
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Processing and properties of thermoplastic composites containing cellulose nanocrystals or wood-based cellulose fibres
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were surface modified with dialkylamines to increase the compatibility between the CNC and the polymeric matrix, and promising results were obtained, with a 300 % stiffness increase when the mixed dispersion was compression moulded on a laboratory scale. The manufacturing process was up-scaled using water-assisted mixing in a twin-screw extruder (TSE) followed by a second compounding step and injection moulding (IM). The composites were successfully produced using conventional melt-processing techniques but these did not show the same improvement in mechanical performance, probably due to the formation of CNC aggregates. There were indications of network formation when CNC was added, especially in the case of surface-modified CNC. Cellulose fibres and thermomechanical pulp were used as reinforcement in similar types of polymer matrices and the mixtures were similarly processed by TSE and IM. These materials were characterized with regard to appearance and durability. The discoloration of the composites due to excessive heat during processing did not significantly affect their mechanical properties, and the addition of the cellulose-based reinforcement to the polymer did not reduce its resistance to thermo-oxidative degradation compared to that of the pure matrix. In fact, the resistance to degradation was increased when lignin was present in the reinforcing element, showing a synergistic effect together with the added anti-oxidant. Superior properties were expected for the CNC composites compared to those of the larger cellulose fibre reinforcements, but in continuous production the stiffening effects were similar regardless of reinforcement type. These results confirm that the processing method and properties strongly affect the final properties of the composite.
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| 9. |
- Hosseini, Seyedehsan, 1994
(författare)
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Additive-Driven Improvements in Interfacial Properties and Processing of TMP-Polymer Composites
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Efforts to address environmental concerns have resulted in new regulations designed to plan the reduction of plastic and synthetic polymer usage, necessitating the search for sustainable natural alternatives with comparable cost-effectiveness and mechanical performance. Thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibres are one of the most affordable natural fibres that have no chemical refining in production, production have a high yield of 90-98% and TMP fibres have been demonstrated to improve the mechanical characteristics (strength, stiffness and toughness) of wood-polymer composites (WPCs) compared to the pure polymer. The integration of TMP fibres with non-polar synthetic polymers remains a challenge due to surface polarity differences. This PhD thesis aims to ease the processing of TMP fibre composites through the incorporation of additives. The hypothesis posits that incorporating magnesium stearate (MgSt), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) as additives in TMP composites will enhance interfacial properties, resulting in improved processability and flow behaviour at high temperatures. MoS2 is known for its interaction with lignin, which exists in TMP and MgSt is recognised for its ability to improve flow in pharmaceutical processing when combined with cellulose, also a component of TMP. AKD modifies the hydrophilic properties of lignocellulosic surfaces. The experimental work explores the effect of these additives on the properties of TMP composites of ethylene acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) and polypropylene (PP) matrices. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and mechanical analysis results reveal that MoS2 exhibits superior interaction with TMP fibres, yielding enhanced interfacial properties compared to MgSt in between EAA and TMP fibres. Rheological studies elucidate the transition from a fluid-like state to a network-like structure upon the incorporation of TMP into the PP matrix. The incorporation of AKD with C18 reduces the viscosity of TMP-PP composites and PP itself, and, as determined through theoretical Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) calculations, increases compatibility between cellulose in TMP fibres and PP. The addition of AKD influences both the colour (lighter) and shape (smoother surface) of the extrudate filaments in the TMP-PP composites, indicative of improved processing. In addition, frictional analysis demonstrates the reduction of the coefficient of friction (COF) between metal and TMP fibre by MgSt and AKD treatments.
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| 10. |
- Ahmed, Istaq, 1972
(författare)
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Acceptor-Doped BaZrO3 Perovskite: Synthesis, Structure and Proton Conductivity.
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Acceptor-doped perovskite oxides exhibit significant proton conductivity in hydrogen containing atmospheres. Therefore, they have potential for use as separator materials for various electrochemical devices including gas sensors, electrolysers and fuel cells. For example, yttrium doped BaZrO3 perovskites have shown high bulk proton conductivity and high chemical stability. However, significant grain boundary resistance has subdued the technological applications.The work constituting this thesis has mainly been focused on synthesis, structural characterisation and electrochemical investigations of acceptor-doped BaZr1-xMxO3-d (M = Ga3+, Sc3+, In3+, Yb3+ and Y3+: x = 0-0.75) perovskite oxides in bulk form. The polycrystalline samples were prepared via a traditional solid-state sintering route and by wet chemical routes. A combination of techniques such as x-ray and neutron powder diffraction, thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance spectroscopy (IS) have been used to characterize the samples. Rietveld analysis of high resolution low temperature neutron powder diffraction data revealed that the deuteron site was localised at, or close to, the 12h crystallographic position of BaZr0.5In0.5O2.5(OD)0.5. It was also confirmed that the hydration/deuteration reaction caused an expansion of the cell parameter, while keeping the lattice symmetry, and thus the basic structure intact. Moreover, from Rietveld analysis of the neutron data the oxygen vacancy concentration was determined and they were found to be statistically distributed in the structure. Heavily doped samples showed higher proton conductivity compared to lightly doped samples, indeed this is an option to improve the conductivity in the material for certain dopants, e.g., In, Sc and Yb. Interestingly, at the same level of doping the proton conductivity differs significantly for different acceptors dopants. The effects of co-doping at the B-site, e.g. BaZr0.9In0.05M0.05O3-d (M = Ga and Yb) were investigated. Surprisingly, lower proton conductivity was obtained for these co-doped samples compared to the sample containing a single dopant ion e.g. BaZr0.9M0.1O3-d (M = Ga, In and Yb).It was also confirmed that samples with smaller grain size show lower total proton conductivity due to high grain-boundary resistance.Through the present work an increased understanding of the factors influencing the proton conductivity in acceptor doped BaZrO3 has been obtained. In particular, the highly doped materials were found to be of considerable interest in the effort of producing materials with high proton conductivity.
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