2017 Vol. 24, No. 7

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Research Article
Alternative beneficiation of tantalite and removal of radioactive oxides from Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite-spodumene ores
Berhe Goitom Gebreyohannes, Velázquez del Rosario Alberto, Abubeker Yimam, Girma Woldetinsae, and  Bogale Tadesse
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 727-735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1456-8
Abstract:
The beneficiation methods for Ethiopian Kenticha pegmatite-spodumene ores were assessed through mineralogical and quantitative analyses with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The tantalite in the upper zone of the Kenticha pegmatite-spodumene deposit is 58.7wt% higher than that in the inner zone. XRD analysis revealed that the upper zone is dominated by manganocolumbite, whereas the inner zone is predominantly tantalite-Mn. Repeated cleaning and beneficiation of the upper-zone ore resulted in concentrate compositions of 57.34wt% of Ta2O5 and 5.41wt% of Nb2O5. Washing the tantalite concentrates using 1vol% KOH and 1 M H2SO4 led to the removal of thorium and uranium radioactive oxides from the concentrate. The findings of this study suggest that the beneficiation and alkaline washing of Kenticha pegmatite-spodumene ores produce a high-grade export-quality tantalite concentrate with negligible radioactive oxides.
Research Article
Solution chemistry of carbonate minerals and its effects on the flotation of hematite with sodium oleate
Dong Li, Wan-zhong Yin, Ji-wei Xue, Jin Yao, Ya-feng Fu, and  Qi Liu
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 736-744. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1457-7
Abstract:
The effects of carbonate minerals (dolomite and siderite) on the flotation of hematite using sodium oleate as a collector were investigated through flotation tests, supplemented by dissolution measurements, solution chemistry calculations, zeta-potential measurements, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The results of flotation tests show that the presence of siderite or dolomite reduced the recovery of hematite and that the inhibiting effects of dolomite were stronger. Dissolution measurements, solution chemistry calculations, and flotation tests confirmed that both the cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and CO32- ions dissolved from dolomite depressed hematite flotation, whereas only the CO32- ions dissolved from siderite were responsible for hematite depression. The zeta-potential, FTIR spectroscopic, and XPS analyses indicated that Ca2+, Mg2+, and CO32- (HCO3-) could adsorb onto the hematite surface, thereby hindering the adsorption of sodium oleate, which was the main reason for the inhibiting effects of carbonate minerals on hematite flotation.
Research Article
Combustion characteristics and kinetics of anthracite with added chlorine
Cui Wang, Jian-liang Zhang, Guang-wei Wang, Ke-xin Jiao, Zheng-jian Liu, and  Kuo-chih Chou
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 745-755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1458-6
Abstract:
The combustion process of Yangquan anthracite (YQ) with the addition of 0.045wt%, 0.211wt%, 1.026wt%, and 2.982wt% chlorine was investigated using a thermogravimetric method from an ambient temperature to 1173 K in an air atmosphere. Results show that the YQ combustion characteristics are not significantly affected by an increase in chlorine content. Data acquired for combustion conversion are then further processed for kinetic analysis. Average apparent activation energies determined using the model-free method (specifically the KAS method) are 103.025, 110.250, 99.906, and 110.641 kJ/mol, respectively, and the optimal kinetic model for describing the combustion process of chlorine-containing YQ is the nucleation kinetic model, as determined by the z(α) master plot method. The mechanism function of the nucleation kinetic model is then employed to estimate the pre-exponential factor, by making use of the compensation effect. The kinetic models to describe chlorine-containing YQ combustion are thus obtained through advanced determination of the optimal mechanism function, average apparent activation energy, and the pre-exponential factor.
Research Article
Effect of the CaO/SiO2 mass ratio and FeO content on the viscosity of CaO-SiO2-“FeO”-12wt%ZnO-3wt%Al2O3 slags
Jian-fang Lü, Zhe-nan Jin, Hong-ying Yang, Lin-lin Tong, Guo-bao Chen, and  Fa-xin Xiao
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 756-767. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1459-5
Abstract:
An effective process for recycling lead from hazardous waste cathode ray tubes (CRTs) funnel glass through traditional lead smelting has been presented previously. The viscous behavior of the molten high lead slag, which is affected by the addition of funnel glass, plays a critical role in determining the production efficiency. Therefore, the viscosities of the CaO-SiO2-"FeO"-12wt%ZnO-3wt%Al2O3 slags were measured in the current study using the rotating spindle method. The slag viscosity decreases as the CaO/SiO2 mass ratio is increased from 0.8 to 1.2 and also as the FeO content is increased from 8wt% to 20wt%. The breaking temperature of the slag is lowered substantially by the addition of FeO, whereas the influence of the CaO/SiO2 mass ratio on the breaking temperature is complex. The structural analysis of quenched slags using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy reveals that the silicate network structure is depolymerized with increasing CaO/SiO2 mass ratio or increasing FeO content. The[FeO6]-octahedra in the slag melt increase as the CaO/SiO2 mass ratio or the FeO content increases. This increase can further decrease the degree of polymerization (DOP) of the slag. Furthermore, the activation energy for viscous flow decreases both with increasing CaO/SiO2 mass ratio and increasing FeO content.
Research Article
Electrorheological effect of Ti-bearing blast furnace slag with different TiC contents at 1500℃
Hong-rui Yue, Tao Jiang, Qiao-yi Zhang, Pei-ning Duan, and  Xiang-xin Xue
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 768-775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1460-z
Abstract:
The electrorheological properties of CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-TiO2-TiC slags were investigated to enhance understanding of the effect of TiC addition on the viscosity, yield stress, and fluid pattern of Ti-bearing slags in a direct-current electric field. The viscosities and shear stresses of 4wt% and 8wt% TiC slags were found to increase substantially with increasing electric field intensity, whereas virtually no rheological changes were observed in the 0wt% TiC slag. The Herschel-Bulkley model was applied to demonstrate that the fluid pattern of the 4wt% TiC slag was converted from that of a Newtonian fluid to that of a Bingham fluid in response to the applied electric field; and the static yield stress increased linearly with the square of the electric field intensity.
Research Article
Isothermal oxidation behavior and mechanism of a nickel-based superalloy at 1000℃
Zhi-yuan Zhu, Yuan-fei Cai, You-jun Gong, Guo-ping Shen, Yu-guo Tu, and  Guo-fu Zhang
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 776-783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1461-y
Abstract:
The oxidation behavior of a nickel-based superalloy at 1000℃ in air was investigated through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy analysis. A series of oxides, including external oxide scales (Cr2O3, (TiO2 + MnCr2O4)) and internal oxides (Al2O3,TiN), were formed on the surface or sub-surface of the substrate at 1000℃ in experimental still air. The oxidation resistance of the alloy was dependent on the stability of the surface oxide layer. The continuity and density of the protective Cr2O3 scale were affected by minor alloying elements such as Ti and Mn. The outermost oxide scale was composed of TiO2 rutile and MnCr2O4 spinel, and the growth of TiO2 particles was controlled by the outer diffusion of Ti ions through the pre-existing oxide layer. Severe internal oxidation occurred beneath the external oxide scale, consuming Al and Ti of the strength phase γ' (Ni3(Al,Ti)) and thereby severely deteriorating the surface mechanical properties. The depth of the internal oxidation region was approximately 35 μm after exposure to experimental air at 1000℃ for 80 h.
Research Article
Evaluation of the microstructure, secondary dendrite arm spacing, and mechanical properties of Al-Si alloy castings made in sand and Fe-Cr slag molds
I. Narasimha Murthy and  J. Babu Rao
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 784-793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1462-x
Abstract:
The microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast A356 (Al-Si) alloy castings were investigated. A356 alloy was cast into three different molds composed of sand, ferrochrome (Fe-Cr) slag, and a mixture of sand and Fe-Cr. A sodium silicate-CO2 process was used to make the necessary molds. Cylindrical-shaped castings were prepared. Cast products with no porosity and a good surface finish were achieved in all of the molds. These castings were evaluated for their metallography, secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS), and mechanical properties, including hardness, compression, tensile, and impact properties. Furthermore, the tensile and impact samples were analyzed by fractography. The results show that faster heat transfer in the Fe-Cr slag molds than in either the silica sand or mixed molds led to lower SDAS values with a refined microstructure in the products cast in Fe-Cr slag molds. Consistent and enhanced mechanical properties were observed in the slag mold products than in the castings obtained from either sand or mixed molds. The fracture surface of the slag mold castings shows a dimple fracture morphology with a transgranular fracture nature. However, the fracture surfaces of the sand mold castings display brittle fracture. In conclusion, products cast in Fe-Cr slag molds exhibit an improved surface finish and enhanced mechanical properties compared to those of products cast in sand and mixed molds.
Research Article
Microwave hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of rare-earth stannate nanoparticles
Shuang Huang, Hua-lan Xu, Sheng-liang Zhong, and  Lei Wang
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 794-803. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1463-9
Abstract:
Rare-earth stannate (Ln2Sn2O7 (Ln=Y, La-Lu)) nanocrystals with an average diameter of 50 nm were prepared through a facile microwave hydrothermal method at 200℃ within 60 min. The products were well characterized. The effect of reaction parameters such as temperature, reaction time, pH value, and alkali source on the preparation was investigated. The results revealed that the pH value plays an important role in the formation process of gadolinium stannate (Gd2Sn2O7) nanoparticles. By contrast, the alkali source had no effect on the phase composition or morphology of the final product. Uniform and sphere-like nanoparticles with an average size of approximately 50 nm were obtained at the pH value of 11.5. A possible formation mechanism was briefly proposed. Gd2Sn2O7:Eu3+ nanoparticles displayed strong orange-red emission. Magnetic measurements revealed that Gd2Sn2O7 nanoparticles were paramagnetic. The other rare-earth stannate Ln2Sn2O7 (Ln=Y, La-Lu) nanocrystals were prepared by similar approaches.
Research ArticleOpen Access
Microwave absorption properties of SiC@SiO2@Fe3O4 hybrids in the 2-18 GHz range
Peng Zhou, Jun-hong Chen, Meng Liu, Peng Jiang, Bin Li, and  Xin-mei Hou
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 804-813. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1464-8
Abstract:
To enhance the microwave absorption performance of silicon carbide nanowires (SiCNWs), SiO2 nanoshells with a thickness of approximately 2 nm and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were grown on the surface of SiCNWs to form SiC@SiO2@Fe3O4 hybrids. The microwave absorption performance of the SiC@SiO2@Fe3O4 hybrids with different thicknesses was investigated in the frequency range from 2 to 18 GHz using a free-space antenna-based system. The results indicate that SiC@SiO2@Fe3O4 hybrids exhibit improved microwave absorption. In particular, in the case of an SiC@SiO2 to iron(Ⅲ) acetylacetonate mass ratio of 1:3, the microwave absorption with an absorber of 2-mm thickness exhibited a minimum reflection loss of -39.58 dB at 12.24 GHz. With respect to the enhanced microwave absorption mechanism, the Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated on SiC@SiO2 nanowires are proposed to balance the permeability and permittivity of the materials, contributing to the microwave attenuation.
Research Article
Effects of the deep rolling process on the surface roughness and properties of an Al-3vol%SiC nanoparticle nanocomposite fabricated by mechanical milling and hot extrusion
Sajjad Sattari and  Amir Atrian
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 814-825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1465-7
Abstract:
Deep rolling is one of the most widely used surface mechanical treatments among several methods used to generate compressive residual stress. This process is usually used for axisymmetric components and can lead to improvements of the surface quality, dimensional accuracy, and mechanical properties. In this study, we deduced the appropriate deep rolling parameters for Al-3vol%SiC nanocomposite samples using roughness and microhardness measurements. The nanocomposite samples were fabricated using a combination of mechanical milling, cold pressing, and hot extrusion techniques. Density measurements indicated acceptable densification of the samples, with no porosity. The results of tensile tests showed that the samples are sufficiently strong for the deep rolling process and also indicated near 50% improvement of tensile strength after incorporating SiC nanoparticle reinforcements. The effects of some important rolling parameters, including the penetration depth, rotation speed, feed rate, and the number of passes, on the surface quality and microhardness were also investigated. The results demonstrated that decreasing the feed rate and increasing the number of passes can lead to greater surface hardness and lower surface roughness.
Research ArticleOpen Access
Effects of metal binder on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3-based micro-nanocomposite ceramic tool material
Xiu-ying Ni, Jun Zhao, Jia-lin Sun, Feng Gong, and  Zuo-li Li
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 826-832. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1466-6
Abstract:
The Al2O3-(W,Ti)C composites with Ni and Mo additions varying from 0vol% to 12vol% were prepared via hot pressing sintering under 30 MPa. The microstructure was investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Mechanical properties such as flexural strength, fracture toughness, and Vickers hardness were also measured. Results show that the main phases Al2O3 and (W,Ti)C were detected by XRD. Compound MoNi also existed in sintered nanocomposites. The fracture modes of the nanocomposites were both intergranular and transgranular fractures. The plastic deformation of metal particles and crack bridging were the main toughening mechanisms. The maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness were obtained for 9vol% and 12vol% additions of Ni and Mo, respectively. The hardness of the composites reduced gradually with increasing content of metals Ni and Mo.
Research Article
Effect of vanadium carbide on commercial pure aluminum
Hua-ping Sun, Jun Wu, Tian Tang, Bo Fan, and  Zheng-hua Tang
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 833-841. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1467-5
Abstract:
The effect of vanadium carbide (VC) on the grain size of commercial pure aluminum was experimentally investigated by varying the content of VC, the holding time, and casting temperature. The refining efficiencies of VC and Al5Ti1B were also compared. The refined samples of commercial pure aluminum were examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results suggest that VC is a good refiner of commercial pure aluminum. The addition of only 0.3wt% VC can decrease the grain size of aluminum to 102 μm, whereas the casting temperature and holding time have little effect on the grain size. The refining efficiency of VC is better than that of Al5Ti1B. The VC particles in molten aluminum act as nuclei and the grain refinement of aluminum alloys by VC particles is achieved via heterogeneous nucleation.
Research Article
Phase transformation and crystal growth behavior of 8mol% (SmO1.5, GdO1.5, and YO1.5) stabilized ZrO2 powders
R. Mahendran, S. P. Kumaresh Babu, S. Natarajan, S. Manivannan, and  A. Vallimanalan
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 842-849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1468-4
Abstract:
Nanocrystalline powders of ZrO2-8mol%SmO1.5(8SmSZ), ZrO2-8mol%GdO1.5 (8GdSZ), and ZrO2-8mol%YO1.5(8YSZ) were prepared by a simple reverse-coprecipitation technique. Differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry (DTA/TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to study the phase transformation and crystal growth behavior. The DTA results showed that the ZrO2 freeze-dried precipitates crystallized at 529, 465, and 467℃ in the case of 8SmSZ, 8GdSZ, and 8YSZ, respectively. The XRD and Raman results confirmed the presence of tetragonal ZrO2 when the dried precipitates were calcined in the temperature range from 600 to 1000℃ for 2 h. The crystallite size increased with increasing calcination temperature. The activation energies were calculated as 12.39, 12.45, and 16.59 kJ/mol for 8SmSZ, 8GdSZ, and 8YSZ respectively.
Research ArticleOpen Access
Carrier transport characteristics of H-terminated diamond films prepared using molecular hydrogen and atomic hydrogen
Jin-long Liu, Liang-xian Chen, Yu-ting Zheng, Jing-jing Wang, Zhi-hong Feng, and  Cheng-ming Li
2017, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 850-856. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1469-3
Abstract:
The H-terminated diamond films, which exhibit high surface conductivity, have been used in high-frequency and high-power electronic devices. In this paper, the surface conductive channel on specimens from the same diamond film was obtained by hydrogen plasma treatment and by heating under a hydrogen atmosphere, respectively, and the surface carrier transport characteristics of both samples were compared and evaluated. The results show that the carrier mobility and carrier density of the sample treated by hydrogen plasma are 15 cm2·V-1·s-1 and greater than 5×1012 cm-2, respectively, and that the carrier mobilities measured at five different areas are similar. Compared to the hydrogen-plasma-treated specimen, the thermally hydrogenated specimen exhibits a lower surface conductivity, a carrier density one order of magnitude lower, and a carrier mobility that varies from 2 to 33 cm2·V-1·s-1. The activated hydrogen atoms restructure the diamond surface, remove the scratches, and passivate the surface states via the etching effect during the hydrogen plasma treatment process, which maintains a higher carrier density and a more stable carrier mobility.