CeraMat

The activation energy of carbon combustion catalysed by alkali vanadates or alkali vanadates/chlorides mixtures is assessed by the Ozawa method. The most active catalyst, Cs4V2O7, entails more than 50% decrease of the activation energy compared to non-catalytic combustion (from 157 down to 75 kJ/mol). The catalyst performance is enhanced when the catalyst is dissolved in a eutectic liquid (e.g., AgCl + CsCl), which likely improves the catalyst/carbon contact conditions.

This paper concerns the development of catalytic traps for diesel particulate removal from the exhaust gases of light-duty vehicles. The studied traps were realised with ceramic (ZTA and mullite) foam structure, on which two different kinds of catalysts, one based on caesium metavanadates and the other on pyrovanadates, were deposited.

Titanium matrix composites reinforced with continuous fibres are candidate materials for high performance structural components in aerospace applications. The present work has been focussed on the use of a fabrication methodology of composite monotapes alternative to the well known fibre-foil techniques. The same fabrication procedure was also selected to produce composite preforms suitable for secondary consolidation processes, as those based upon diffusion bonding methods, in order to obtain multilayered composites.

Co-continuous 63%Al2O3/37%Al(Si) composite, known as C4 composite, was produced by submersion of silica glass specimens in a molten metal bath. The effect of temperature and composition of the metal bath on the reactive penetration rate was investigated. An infiltration speed exceeding 2 mm/h, increasing with temperature, and suitable for practical applications, was observed above 1100 °C. Mechanical properties of C 4 specimens were measured, at room temperature, and related to composite microstructure.

Reusable thermal protection systems of reentry vehicles are adopted for temperatures ranging between 1000 and 2000 °C, when gas velocity and density are relatively low; they exploit the low thermal conductivity of their constituent materials. This paper presents a new class of light structural thermal protection systems comprised of a load bearing structure made of a macroporous reticulated SiSiC, filled with compacted short alumina/mullite fibers. Their manufacturing process is very simple and does not require special devices or ambient conditions.

This article aims to prepare by injection molding recycled polymeric composites based on PA66 reinforced with short carbon fibers after artificial aging for applications in the automotive field. The aging cycles involves the combined action of UV radiation, moisture, and temperature in order to simulate the common outdoor conditions. The 100% recycled composites are obtained by the regranulation of the aged specimens followed by the remelting and re-injection molding.

Thermal fatigue behaviour of a 2014/Saffil composite has been investigated. This composite was produced by infiltration of preforms of Saffil fibers (Al2O3-SiO2 fibers) with a 2014 aluminium alloy (Al-4.7Cu-1.0Si-0.6Mg). The composite samples, containing 13 vol.% of fibers, were sectioned and their microstructure was investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Tensile tests, hardness and microhardness measurements were carried out. The fracture surfaces were examined by SEM.

Brake discs of (Al-Si-Mg)/SiC composite were produced by gravity casting. To this purpose ingots, containing 50 vol.-% of SiC particles, produced by pressureless metal infiltration at Lanxide Corp., were melted, diluted with an unreinforced alloy (thus achieving a SiC content of 30 vol.-%), and cast in permanents moulds. The possibility of repeating the casting process using recycled material was investigated. Brake discs were fabricated by using 50 or 100% of recycled composite.

The thermal stability of a 2D-Nicalon/C/SiC composite was studied through the variation of both mechanical properties and microstructure occurring during heat treating. The composite was processed by infiltration of SiC preforms according to SICFILL® method. The material toughness was enhanced by a carbon interphase put between the fibers and the matrix. In order to improve the thermal stability a CVI layer was deposited on the carbon interphase and the specimen surfaces were CVD covered by an external SiC seal coating about 165 μm thick.