Jet-Printable, Low-Melting-Temperature Ga-xSn Eutectic Composites: Application in All-Solid-State Batteries.

Low-melting-point Ga-xSn eutectic composites and natural silicate mineral powders were used as the electrode and solid-state electrolyte, respectively, in all-solid-state batteries for green energy storage systems. The influences of the Sn content in the Ga-xSn composite electrode on the electrochemical performance of the batteries were evaluated, and liquid composites with a Sn concentration of up to 30 wt.% demonstrated suitability for electrode fabrication through dip coating. Sodium-enriched silicate was synthesized to serve as the solid-state electrolyte membrane because of the abundance of water molecules in its interlayer structure, enabling ion exchange. The battery capacity increased with the Sn content of the Ga-xSn anode. The formation of intermetallic compounds and oxides (CuGa2, Ga2O3, Cu6Sn5, and SnO2) resulted in a high charge-discharge capacity and stability. The Ga-Sn composite electrode for all-solid-state batteries exhibits a satisfiable capacity and stability and shows potential for jet-printed electrode applications.

Effects of Heat-Treatment and Cold-Rolling on Mechanical Properties and Impact Failure Resistance of New Al 6082 Aluminum Alloy by Continuous Casting Direct Rolling Process.

Al 6082 aluminum alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, strength, and formability. However, owing to the recrystallization effect of a hot working process, coarse grains form easily in this material, which reduces its strength and service life. The novel continuous casting direct rolling (CCDR) method can prevent the deterioration of this material. Thus, we used CCDR Al 6082 aluminum alloy as the research material in this study. By subjecting a CCDR Al 6082 aluminum alloy to heat treatment (T4 and T6) and cold rolling, the influence of recrystallization effect on its mechanical properties and on impact failure resistance were explored. The results demonstrated that the specimen subjected to T4 heat treatment had a higher elongation and that the specimen subjected to T6 heat treatment had a higher strength. After cold rolling, the hardness and strength of the specimens subjected to different heat treatments (coded T4R4 and T6R4) increased because of the work's hardening effect. Moreover, the elongations of both specimens decreased, but they were higher than the industrial standard (>10%). The strength of specimen T6R4 was higher (up to 400 MPa) than specimen T4R4. Moreover, relative to specimen T4R4, specimen T6R4 had greater tensile and Charpy impact failure toughness.

Microstructural Characteristics and Material Failure Mechanism of SLM Ti-6Al-4V-Zn Alloy.

This study focuses on the additive manufacturing technique of selective laser melting (SLM) to produce Ti-6Al-4V-Zn titanium alloy. The addition of zinc at 0.3 wt.% was investigated to improve the strength and ductility of SLM Ti-6Al-4V alloys. The microstructure and mechanical properties were analyzed using different vacuum heat treatment processes, with the 800-4-FC specimen exhibiting the most favorable overall mechanical properties. Additionally, zinc serves as a stabilizing element for the ß phase, enhancing the resistance to particle erosion and corrosion impedance of Ti-6Al-4V-Zn alloy. Furthermore, the incorporation of trace amounts of Zn imparts improved impact toughness and stabilized high-temperature tensile mechanical properties to SLM Ti-6Al-4V-Zn alloy. The data obtained serve as valuable references for the application of SLM-64Ti.

Effect of High Temperature and Thermal Cycle of 4043 Al Alloy Manufactured through Continuous Casting Direct Rolling.

CCDR 4043 Al alloys are an outstanding candidate for producing mechanical components for automotive or aircraft engines. Two experimental environments-sustained high temperature and repeated heating-cooling-were simulated in the laboratory to replicate the actual operating conditions of engine components. This research investigated the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and fracture characteristics of the 4043 Al alloy manufactured through the continuous casting direct rolling (CCDR) process under different post-processing conditions. The CCDR process combines continuous casting, billet heating, and subsequent continuous rolling in a single equipment of production line, enabling the mass production of Al alloy in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner. In the present work, the 4043 alloy was subjected to two environmental conditions: a sustained high-temperature environment (control group) and a cyclic heating-cooling environment (experimental group). The maximum temperature was set to 200 °C in the experiment. The experimental results show that, in a sustained high temperature working environment, the strength and elongation of the CCDR 4043 Al alloy tend to be stable. The overall effect involves the Al matrix softening and the spheroidization of eutectic Si caused by prolonged exposure to high temperature. This can enhance its ductility while retaining a certain level of mechanical strength. Comparatively, in the working environment of cyclic heating-cooling (thermal cycle), the direction of Si diffusion was different in each cycle, thus leading to the formation of an irregular Ai-Si eutectic structure containing precipitated Si particles of different sizes. The two compositions of Al and Si with very different thermal expansion coefficients may induce defects at the sharp points of Si particles under repeated heating-cooling, thereby reducing the strength and ductility of the material. The results of this work can confirm that the fracture behavior of 4043 Al alloys is obviously controlled by the morphology of the precipitated eutectic Si. In addition, CCDR 4043 Al alloys are not suitable to be used in working environments with a thermal cycle. In practical applications, it is necessary to add traces of special elements or to employ other methods to achieve the purpose of spheroidizing the precipitated eutectic Si and Al-Fe-Si phases to avoid the deterioration of strength and ductility under cyclic heating. To date, no other literature has explored the changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties of CCDR 4043 Al alloys across various time scales under the aforementioned working environments. In summary, the findings provide valuable insights into the effect of thermal conditions on the properties and behavior of CCDR 4043 Al alloys, offering potential applications for it in various engineering fields, such as the automotive and aerospace industries.

Microstructure and fracture toughness of hot-rolling biomedical degradable ZKX500 magnesium bone plates.

In this study, the microstructure and fracture toughness of ZKX500 magnesium alloy under different processing were investigated. The results show that the as-extruded (FH) consists of coarsen and fine grains with higher residual stress. The fracture toughness and crack propagation are significantly distinct along different directions. By contrast, the rolled specimen (FRH) shows an equiaxed grain structure and precipitation dispersion in the matrix. After hot-rolling and heat treatment, less texture effect affected on the fracture toughness and rupture energy absorption. These renders the higher attractive on the rolled ZKX500 magnesium alloy in the applications of orthopedic bone plates.

Metallographic Mechanism of Embrittlement of 15 µm Ultrafine Quaternary Silver Alloy Bonding Wire in Chloride Ions Environment.

Chloride ions contained in the sealing compound currently used in the electronic packaging industry not only interact with intermetallic compounds but also have a serious impact on silver alloy wires. A 15 µm ultrafine quaternary silver-palladium-gold-platinum alloy wire was used in this study. The wire and its bonding were immersed in a 60 °C saturated sodium chloride solution (chlorination experiment), and the strength and elongation before and after chlorination were measured. Finally, the fracture surface and cross-section characteristics were observed using a scanning electron microscope and focused ion microscope. The results revealed that chloride ions invade the wire along the grain boundary, and chlorides have been generated inside the cracks to weaken the strength and elongation of the wire. In addition, chloride ions invade the interface of the wire bonding to erode the aluminum substrate after immersing it for enough long time, causing galvanic corrosion, which in turn causes the bonding joint to separate from the aluminum substrate.

Application of New Al-Si Welding Filler with High Concentration of Copper and Magnesium: High-Temperature Strength and Anti-Corrosion Mechanism.

Currently, the primary commercial aluminum alloy fillers used are 4043 and 5356. However, when welded with high-strength work pieces like 6061 and 7075 aluminum alloys, the strength of weld beads significantly lags behind that of the original welded material. Both 4043 and 5356 aluminum alloys cannot be strengthened through heat treatment. The strength difference between the weld bead and base material doubles after heat treatment. In this study, an Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy (SCM) filler modified using a heat-treatable A319 aluminum alloy was employed to investigate the post-welding microstructural and mechanical properties of specimens under room- and high-temperature conditions and after prolonged exposure in a saltwater environment (3.5 wt.% NaCl). The aim was to demonstrate that commercial aluminum alloy fillers could be substituted with a high-silicon aluminum alloy boasting excellent solidification and mechanical properties. The results revealed that, after heat treatment of the weld bead, dendrites were not eliminated, but the tensile strength increased to 310 MPa, closely matching that of commercial 6061 aluminum alloy. The strength of the weld bead remained higher than 250 MPa in high-temperature (240 °C) and saltwater environments. These findings underscore the potential application of this material.

Charge-Discharge Properties of Sputtered Mg Anode in Flexible All-Solid-State Mg-Ion Batteries.

In this study, a sputtered Mg film was fabricated as an anode, a natural magnesium silicate mineral was used as electrolyte, and an all-solid-state Mg battery with a carbon black electrode was assembled; subsequently, the battery's electrochemical characteristics and charge-discharge mechanism were evaluated. Because the abundant interlayer water in the magnesium silicate mineral structure allowed for cations channel to form, the battery exhibited considerable ionic conductivity at room temperature. The magnesium silicate mineral was fabricated as a flexible cloth membrane solid-state electrolyte to improve its adhesion to the electrode surface and, consequently, enhance battery performance. During high-voltage charging, a visible blocking layer structure was formed on the surface of the Mg electrode. The formation of the blocking layer considerably increased the interfacial resistance of the battery, which was detrimental to the insertion and extraction of the Mg ions on the electrode surface and reduced the capacity of the solid-state battery. Thus, the solid-state Mg battery exhibited acceptable capacity and stability and the potential for application in energy storage systems.

A Study on the Structure and Biomedical Application Characteristics of Phosphate Coatings on ZKX500 Magnesium Alloys.

Magnesium-matrix implants can be detected by X-ray, making post-operative monitoring easier. Since the density and mechanical properties of Mg alloys are similar to those of human bones, the stress-shielding effect can be avoided, accelerating the recovery and regeneration of bone tissues. Additionally, Mg biodegradability shields patients from the infection risk and medical financial burden of needing another surgery. However, the major challenge for magnesium-matrix implants is the rapid degradation rate, which necessitates surface treatment. In this study, the ZKX500 Mg alloy was used, and a non-toxic and eco-friendly anodic oxidation method was adopted to improve corrosion resistance. The results indicate that the anodic coating mainly consisted of magnesium phosphate. After anodic oxidation, the specimen surface developed a coating and an ion-exchanged layer that could slow down the degradation and help maintain the mechanical properties. The results of the tensile and impact tests reveal that after being immersed in SBF for 28 days, the anodic oxidation-treated specimens maintained good strength, ductility, and toughness. Anodic coating provides an excellent surface for cell attachment and growth. In the animal experiment, the anodic oxidation-treated magnesium bone screw used had no adverse effect and could support the injured part for at least 3 months.

A Novel Two-Stage Heat Treatment with Medium-Temperature Aging Influence on Microstructure, Al3(Sc, Zr) Nanoprecipitation, and Application Properties, Enhancing Selective Laser Melting of Al-Mg-Sc-Zr Alloy.

Al-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy fabricated through selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing alloy with promising industrial potential. In this study, as-printed specimens were subjected to either single-stage or two-stage heat treatment processes to investigate the effect of temperature from room temperature to high temperature on the specimens' tensile and fatigue properties to establish a reliable reference for aerospace applications. The tensile test results indicated that the heat treatment contributed to determine the properties of the nanoprecipitate Al3(Sc, Zr) with a strengthening phase, improving tensile strength. Moreover, the dynamics strain aging (DSA) effect vanished as temperature increased. It is noteworthy that the nanoprecipitation was distributed at the boundary of the melting pool after single-stage heat treatment with the highest tensile properties in all tests. In addition, the microstructure observed after the two-stage heat treatment indicated a melting pool interface decomposition, and the nanoprecipitation was homogeneously scattered over the Al matrix, increasing strength and further delaying fatigue crack transmission. Those features build a high-fatigue-resistance foundation. TEM analysis also confirmed the promotion of Sc thermal diffusion and an Al3(Sc, Zr) precipitation transformation mechanism under two-stage heat treatment, corresponding to aforementioned inferences. The SLM Al-Mg-Sc-Zr alloy with two-stage heat treatment brings about balance between tensile properties and fatigue resistance, providing new insight into additive manufacturing with Al alloys.

Mechanical properties and biomedical application characteristics of degradable polylactic acid-Mg-Ca3(PO4)2 three-phase composite.

Polylactic acid (PLA), pure magnesium powder, and calcium phosphate powder were used to form a three-phase degradable biomedical composite. The effects of various powder proportions in polylactic acid-Mg-Ca3(PO4)2 composites were analyzed through mechanical and biological tests, which revealed that both the tensile and impact strength of the composite increased. Additionally, ductility presented only after a small proportion of powder was added. Hardness slightly increased because of dispersion strengthening. Furthermore, the addition of pure magnesium and calcium phosphate accelerated the degradation rate, and biocompatible salts were generated after degradation, which can improve healing and renewal in bone tissue. None of the composites exhibited cytotoxicity, meeting biological safety requirements. Overall, PLA10M10C (10 wt.% Mg, 10 wt.% Ca3(PO4)2) exhibited superior performance. Accordingly, PLA10M10C can serve as a reference for degradable biomedical material applications in orthopedic implants.

Al2O3 Particle Erosion Induced Phase Transformation: Structure, Mechanical Property, and Impact Toughness of an SLM Al-10Si-Mg Alloy.

This study investigated the microstructure, mechanical properties, impact toughness, and erosion characteristics of Al-10Si-Mg alloy specimens manufactured using the selective laser melting (SLM) method with or without subsequent T6 heat treatment. Furthermore, the erosion phase transformation behavior of the test specimens was analyzed, and the effect of the degradation mechanism on the tensile mechanical properties and impact toughness of the SLM Al-10Si-Mg alloy specimens before and after particle erosion was compared. The experimental results indicated that the Al-10Si-Mg alloy subjected to T6 heat treatment has better erosion resistance than the as-fabricated material. The tensile strength and fracture toughness of both specimen groups decreased due to the formation of microcracks on the surface caused by particle erosion. Nevertheless, the erosion-induced silicon nanoparticle solid solution softens the Al matrix and improves the elongation of the SLM Al-10Si-Mg alloy.

Biodegradation ZK50 magnesium alloy compression screws: Mechanical properties, biodegradable characteristics and implant test.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium alloy implants have lower stress load and can be absorbed gradually, but their degradation rates are too fast generally. A magnesium alloy contained 5% Zn and 0.5% Zr (ZK50) which have lower degradation rate are designed to be applied to cannulated bone screw. METHODS: An oxidation heat treatment of 380 °C for 2 h proceeds to modify the ZK50 Mg alloy (ZK50-H). The microstructure observation, degradation tests and Biocompatibility analysis are proceeded between ZK50 and ZK50-H. Finally, a mini-pig implantation test is proceeded to provide a reference of implant application for future pre-clinical evaluation. RESULTS: The heat treatment can improve the mechanical properties. A passive ceramic layer formed after simulated body fluid (SBF) solution immersion can restrict the degradation effectively. The cytotoxicity test shows the initial biosafety of ZK50 Mg alloy. A mini-pig implantation test of bone screw has proceeded to confirm the advanced biocompatibility. The ZK50-H screws can maintain enough support at least 8 weeks which the fracture of bone can get curing. The excellent osteoinduction of ZK50-H has a positive effect to growth of new bones and help the mini-pig regain heal faster in 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: This study shows ZK50-H Mg alloy screw is a feasible degradation implant and can be carried out the next-step clinical experiments.

A New Infrared Heat Treatment on Hot Forging 7075 Aluminum Alloy: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties.

When hot forging 7075 aluminum alloy, as a military material durable enough for most of its applications, it needs to be heat-treated to ensure the target material property achieves the application requirements. However, the material properties change because of heat throughout usage. In this study, a new approach was devised to heat treat the alloy to prevent material property changes. The study further clarified the effect of rapid heat treatment on the high-temperature resistance of a hot forging 7075 aluminum alloy. Infrared (IR) heat treatment was used as a rapid heating technique to effectively replace the conventional resistance heat (RH) treatment method. Our experimental result showed that IR heat treatment resulted in better age hardening at the initial aging stage, where its tensile strength and elongation appeared like that of a resistance heat treatment. More so, based on hardness and tensile test results, the IR-heated treatment process inhibited the phase transformation of precipitations at a higher temperature, improving high-temperature softening resistance and enhancing the thermal stability of the hot forging 7075 aluminum alloy.

Low Conductivity Decay of Sn-0.7Cu-0.2Zn Photovoltaic Ribbons for Solar Cell Application.

: The present study applied Sn-0.7Cu-0.2Zn alloy solders to a photovoltaic ribbon. Intermetallic compounds of Cu6Sn5 and Ag3Sn formed at the Cu/solder/Ag interfaces of the module after reflow. Electron probe microanalyzer images showed that a Cu-Zn solid-solution layer (Zn accumulation layer) existed at the Cu/solder interface. After a 72 h current stress, no detectable amounts of Cu6Sn5 were found. However, a small increase in Ag3Sn was found. Compared with a Sn-0.7Cu photovoltaic module, the increase of the intermetallic compounds thickness in the Sn-0.7Cu-0.2Zn photovoltaic module was much smaller. A retard in the growth of the intermetallic compounds caused the series resistance of the module to slightly increase by 9%. A Zn accumulation layer formed at the module interfaces by adding trace Zn to the Sn-0.7Cu solder, retarding the growth of the intermetallic compounds and thus enhancing the lifetime of the photovoltaic module.

Embrittlement Due to Excess Heat Input into Friction Stir Processed 7075 Alloy.

The grain size of high strength 7075 hot-rolled aluminum plates was refined by a friction stir process (FSP) to improve their mechanical properties. The results of the tensile ductility tests, which were conducted at various tool rotational speeds, in the friction stir zone indicate significant tensile ductility loss, which even resulted in a ductile-to-brittle transition (DBT). DBT depends on the tool rotational speed. Our 1450 rpm specimens showed large data fluctuation in the tensile ductility and the location of the fracture controlled the formation of friction stir induced bands (FSIB). The crack initiation site located at FSIB was due to the tool rotational speed (1670 rpm). A higher heat-input causes the formation of FSIB, which is accompanied with micro-voids. This contributes significantly to tensile cracking within the stir zone after the application of the aging treatment. This investigation aimed to determine the dominant factor causing tensile ductility loss at the stir zone, which is the major restriction preventing further applications.

Effects of Static Heat and Dynamic Current on Al/Zn∙Cu/Sn Solder/Ag Interfaces of Sn Photovoltaic Al-Ribbon Modules.

This present study applied Cu∙Zn/Al ribbon in place of a traditional Cu ribbon to a photovoltaic (PV) ribbon. A hot-dipped and an electroplated Sn PV ribbon reflowed onto an Ag electrode on a Si solar cell and estimated the feasibility of the tested module (Ag/Solder/Cu∙Zn/Al). After bias-aging, a bias-induced thermal diffusion and an electromigration promoted the growth of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) (Cu6Sn5, Ag3Sn). To simulate a photo-generated current in the series connection of solar cells, an electron with Ag-direction (electron flows from Ag to Al) and Al-direction (electron flows from Al to Ag) was passed through the Al/Zn∙Cu/Solder/Ag structure to clarify the growth mechanism of IMCs. An increase in resistance of the Ag-direction-biased module was higher than that of the Al-direction biased one due to the intense growth of Cu6Sn5 and Ag3Sn IMCs. The coated solder of the electroplated PV ribbon was less than that of the hot-dipped one, and thus decreased the growth reaction of IMCs and the cost of PV ribbon.

Microstructure-modified biodegradable magnesium alloy for promoting cytocompatibility and wound healing in vitro.

The microstructure of biomedical magnesium alloys has great influence on anti-corrosion performance and biocompatibility. In practical application and for the purpose of microstructure modification, heat treatments were chosen to provide widely varying microstructures. The aim of the present work was to investigate the influence of the microstructural parameters of an Al-free Mg-Zn-Zr alloy (ZK60), and the corresponding heat-treatment-modified microstructures on the resultant corrosion resistance and biological performance. Significant enhancement in corrosion resistance was obtained in Al-free Mg-Zn-Zr alloy (ZK60) through 400 °C solid-solution heat treatment. It was found that the optimal condition of solid-solution treatment homogenized the matrix and eliminated internal defects; after which, the problem of unfavorable corrosion behavior was improved. Further, it was also found that the Mg ion-release concentration from the modified ZK60 significantly induced the cellular activity of fibroblast cells, revealing in high viability value and migration ability. The experimental evidence suggests that this system can further accelerate wound healing. From the perspective of specific biomedical applications, this research result suggests that the heat treatment should be applied in order to improve the biological performance.

Heat treatment mechanism and biodegradable characteristics of ZAX1330 Mg alloy.

Heat treatments are key processes in the development of biodegradable magnesium implants. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors of microstructures and metallurgical segregation on the functionality of biodegradable magnesium alloy. The solid solution heat treatment and strain induced melting activation heat treatment were employed to alter the microstructures of ZAX1330 alloy in this study. Heat treatments caused a significant change on grain size and distribution of secondary phases. The fine-grained microstructure enhanced the mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and achieved the lowest degradation rate in simulated body fluid solution. In coarse-grained microstructure systems, grain growth followed liquid phase formation. The corrosion rate increased due to a larger cathodic region. The status of micro-alloyed calcium (in solid solution or segregated) influenced the microstructural evolution mechanisms, mechanical strength, and degradation properties. A cytotoxicity test and a live/dead assay showed that ZAX1330 had good cytocompatibility, which varied with heat treatment, and no cell toxicity. The results suggest that heat treatment should be controlled precisely in order to improve the cytocompatibility of magnesium alloys for application in orthopedic implants.

Simple fabrication process for 2D ZnO nanowalls and their potential application as a methane sensor.

Two-dimensional (2D) ZnO nanowalls were prepared on a glass substrate by a low-temperature thermal evaporation method, in which the fabrication process did not use a metal catalyst or the pre-deposition of a ZnO seed layer on the substrate. The nanowalls were characterized for their surface morphology, and the structural and optical properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL). The fabricated ZnO nanowalls have many advantages, such as low growth temperature and good crystal quality, while being fast, low cost, and easy to fabricate. Methane sensor measurements of the ZnO nanowalls show a high sensitivity to methane gas, and rapid response and recovery times. These unique characteristics are attributed to the high surface-to-volume ratio of the ZnO nanowalls. Thus, the ZnO nanowall methane sensor is a potential gas sensor candidate owing to its good performance.