1. |
- van Leeuwen, F., et al.
(author)
-
Gaia Data Release 1 : Open cluster astrometry: Performance, limitations, and future prospects
- 2017
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 601
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. The first Gaia Data Release contains the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS). This is a subset of about 2 million stars for which, besides the position and photometry, the proper motion and parallax are calculated using Hipparcos and Tycho-2 positions in 1991.25 as prior information. Aims. We investigate the scientific potential and limitations of the TGAS component by means of the astrometric data for open clusters. Methods. Mean cluster parallax and proper motion values are derived taking into account the error correlations within the astrometric solutions for individual stars, an estimate of the internal velocity dispersion in the cluster, and, where relevant, the effects of the depth of the cluster along the line of sight. Internal consistency of the TGAS data is assessed. Results. Values given for standard uncertainties are still inaccurate and may lead to unrealistic unit-weight standard deviations of least squares solutions for cluster parameters. Reconstructed mean cluster parallax and proper motion values are generally in very good agreement with earlier Hipparcos-based determination, although the Gaia mean parallax for the Pleiades is a significant exception. We have no current explanation for that discrepancy. Most clusters are observed to extend to nearly 15 pc from the cluster centre, and it will be up to future Gaia releases to establish whether those potential cluster-member stars are still dynamically bound to the clusters. Conclusions. The Gaia DR1 provides the means to examine open clusters far beyond their more easily visible cores, and can provide membership assessments based on proper motions and parallaxes. A combined HR diagram shows the same features as observed before using the Hipparcos data, with clearly increased luminosities for older A and F dwarfs.
|
|
2. |
|
|
3. |
- Kero, Ida
(author)
-
Ti3SiC2 synthesis from TiC and Si powders
- 2010
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of this work was to produce Ti3SiC2 from TiC and Si powders and to investigate process parameters with respect to optimised Ti3SiC2 yield. The reaction pathway of Ti3SiC2 formation and the thermochemical degradation reactions were examined. Various material characterization and analysis methods have been applied, including x-ray diffractometry, dilatometry, calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. Through the work performed it has been found that Ti3SiC2 may be produced in relatively large quantities (96.8 vol%) from TiC and Si powders. Short holding times (0-3 hours) and relatively high temperatures (1350-1400°C) produce the largest amounts of Ti3SiC2 when pressureless sintering is applied.The effect of varying the silicon contents on yield was investigated; excess silicon may be beneficial for the Ti3SiC2 yield if combined with appropriate heat treatments. TiSi2 is found to play a key role in the formation of Ti3SiC2 from TiC and Si powders. TiSi2 is present in samples heat treated at relatively low temperatures with short holding times. It is consumed in the formation of Ti3SiC2. Decomposition of Ti3SiC2 may occur at relatively low temperatures (1300°C) when there is oxygen present in the furnace atmosphere. The effect becomes more significant with long holding times (> 5 hours) and is also significant at very high temperatures (1500°C). When the partial pressure of oxygen is limited, no decomposition has been observed below 1450°C. At these temperatures, the presence of carbon in the furnace atmosphere induced no detrimental effect on the thermochemical stability of Ti3SiC2.
|
|
4. |
- Melk, Latifa, et al.
(author)
-
Coefficient of friction and wear resistance of zirconia-MWCNTs composites
- 2015
-
In: Ceramics International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0272-8842 .- 1873-3956. ; 41:1 Part A, s. 459-468
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Composites of 3 mol.% yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP) reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) up to 2 wt. % content have been produced using spark plasma sintering (SPS). The theoretical densities of the studied composites were found to be between 99.4 and 97.4%. The addition of MWCNT content resulted in reduction of 3Y-TZP grain size from 174 to 148 nm. The effect of MWCNT on the friction coefficient (COF) was studied by performing nano- and macro-scratches using diamond Berkovich and Rockwell indenters, respectively. Moreover, the COF and the wear rate were also investigated in reciprocating sliding against a zirconia ball under a load of 5 N. The results showed that the COF decreased upon the increase in MWCNT content. However, in macro-scratch testing, there was a critical load over which brittle fracture sets in and its value decreases as the MWCNT content increases. The wear resistance was found to be decreasing very slightly for less than 1 wt. % MWCNT, while it increases strongly for the addition of 2 wt. % MWCNT under the conditions studied. The results were discussed in terms of material properties, scanning electron microscopy observations of the wear track and nanoindentation tests.
|
|
5. |
- Melk, Latifa, et al.
(author)
-
Material removal mechanisms by EDM of zirconia reinforced MWCNT nanocomposites
- 2016
-
In: Ceramics International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0272-8842 .- 1873-3956. ; 42:5, s. 5792-5801
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Several composites of tetragonal zirconia polycrystals doped with 3 mol% yttria (3Y-TZP) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with concentrations from 0.5 to 4 wt% CNT were processed, spark plasma sintered, and characterised for a wide range of mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. In particular, a strong increase in electrical conductivity at room temperature was found with only 0.5 wt% CNT. However, the thermal conductivity was decreasing with increasing CNT content. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) using die sinking was carried out using the composites of 1 and 2 wt% CNT as workpieces. It was shown that both compositions could be successfully machined by EDM. The surface integrity and the subsurface were studied by SEM/FIB in order to determine the material removal mechanisms, which were found to be associated to spalling and melting/evaporation. Raman Spectroscopy was used to evaluate the damage of CNTs after EDM.
|
|
6. |
- Melk, Latifa, et al.
(author)
-
Nanoindentation and fracture toughness of nanostructured zirconia/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites
- 2015
-
In: Ceramics International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0272-8842 .- 1873-3956. ; 41:2, s. 2453-2461
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/3 mol% yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP) composites were produced using spark plasma sintering (SPS) with MWCNT content ranging within 0-2 wt%. In the present paper, it was shown that the addition of MWCNTs results in a refinement of the composites microstructure. Moreover, nanoindentation tests were performed in order to monitor the change in elastic modulus and hardness with MWCNT content and it was found that both properties decrease with the addition of MWCNT content. A novel method was used to measure the true fracture toughness of the composites by producing a shallow surface sharp notch machined by ultra-short pulsed laser ablation on the surface of beam specimens. The true fracture toughness obtained on this laser machined single edge V-notch beam (SEVNB) specimens tested in four point bending was compared to the indentation fracture toughness measured using a Vickers indenter. It was found that the indentation fracture toughness increases with increasing MWCNT content, while the true fracture toughness determined with SEVNB was practically independent of the composition. Finally, it was concluded that the increase in the resistance to indentation cracking of the composites with respect to 3Y-TZP matrix cannot be associated to higher true fracture toughness. The results were discussed in terms of transformation toughening, damage induced in front of the notch tip, microstructure of the composites, and fracture toughness of 3Y-TZP.
|
|
7. |
- Melk, Latifa, et al.
(author)
-
Surface microstructural changes of Spark Plasma Sintered Zirconia after grinding and annealing
- 2016
-
In: Ceramics International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0272-8842 .- 1873-3956. ; 42:14, s. 15610-15617
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Spark plasma sintered zirconia (3Y-TZP) specimens have been produced of 140 nm 372 nm and 753 nm grain sizes by sintering at 1250 C, 1450 C and 1600 C, respectively. The sintered zirconia specimens were grinded using a diamond grinding disc with an average diamond particle size of about 60 µm, under a pressure of 0.9 MPa. The influence of grinding and annealing on the grain size has been analysed. It was shown that thermal etching after of ruff grinding of specimens at 1100 C for one hour induced an irregular surface layer of about a few hundred nanometres in thickness of recrystallized nano-grains, independently of the initial grain size. However, if the ground specimens were exposed to higher temperature, e.g. annealing at 1575 °C for one hour, the nano-grain layer was not observed and the final grain size was similar to that achieved by the same heat treatments on carefully polished specimens. Therefore, by appropriate grinding and thermal etching treatments, nanograined surface layer can be obtained which increases the resistance to low temperature degradation.
|
|
8. |
- Melk, Latifa, et al.
(author)
-
The influence of unshielded small cracks in the fracture toughness of yttria and of ceria stabilised zirconia
- 2016
-
In: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. - : Elsevier BV. - 0955-2219 .- 1873-619X. ; 36:1, s. 147-153
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The fracture toughness, KIC of two 3Y–ZrO2 with different grain size (177 and 330 nm) and 12Ce–ZrO2 were determined from a sharp micro-machined notch by Ultra-Short Pulsed Laser Ablation (UPLA) where a micro-cracked zone and non-transformed is generated in front of the notch. The notch plus the damage behaved as an unshielded edge surface crack. The fracture stress, σf of both 330 nm-3Y–ZrO2 and 12Ce–ZrO2 with similar short crack sizes were found to be comparable in despite of their different published R-curves. The results of KIC were discussed in terms of the type of cracks induced and by using a simple R-curve model. It was concluded that for the development of high strength composites with 12Ce–ZrO2 as the matrix, the relevant KIC that controls the σf with surface unshielded short cracks is much closer to the intrinsic KIC than to the indentation KIC or to the plateau KIC of long cracks.
|
|