Electrical and microstructural properties of microwave sintered SnO2-based varistors

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Composites PVDF-TrFE/BT used as bioactive membranes for enhancing bone regeneration

In this paper a piezoelectric composite membranes were developed for charge generator to promoter bone regeneration on defects sites. Is known that the osteogenesis process is induced by interactions between biological mechanisms and electrical phenomena. The membranes were prepared by mixing Barium Titanate (BT) powders and PVDF-TrFE (PVDF:TrFE = 60:40 mol%) on dimethylformamide medium. This precursor solution was dried and crystallized at 100degreesC for 12 hours. Composites membranes were obtained by following methods: solvent casting (SC), spincoating (SP), solvent extraction by water addition (WS) and hot pressing (HP).The microstructural analysis performed by SEM showed connectivity type 3-0 and 3-1 with high homogeneity for samples of ceramic volume fraction major than 0.50. Powder agglomerates within the polymer matrix was evidenced were observed for composites with the BT volume fraction major than 40%. The composite of ceramic fraction of 0.55 presented the best values of remanent polarization (similar to33 muC/cm(2)), but the flexibility of these composites with the larger ceramic fraction was significantly affected.For in vivo evaluation PVDF-TrFE/BT 90/10 membranes with 3cm larger were longitudinally implanted under tibiae of male rabbit. After 21 days the animals were sacrificed. By histological analyses were observed neo formed bone with a high mitotic activity. In the interface bone-membrane was evidenced a pronounced callus formation. These results encourage further applications of these membranes in bone-repair process.

Influence of the concentration of Sb2O3 and the viscosity of the precursor solution on the electrical and optical properties of SnO2 thin films produced by the Pechini method

SnO2:Sb multi-layer coatings were prepared by the Pechini method. An investigation was made of the influence of the concentration of Sb2O3 and the viscosity of the precursor solution on the electrical and optical properties of SnO2 thin films. The use of a multi-layer system as an alternative form of increasing the packing and. thus. decreasing porosity proved to be efficient, decreasing the system's resistivity without altering its optical properties. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Conductive composites of natural rubber and carbon black for pressure sensors

Composites of natural rubber and carbon black have attracted great interest due to their technological applications. In this work natural rubber (NR) and carbon black (CB) were compounded, aiming the development of composites with good mechanical properties, processability and electrical conductivity for use as pressure sensors. The electrical conductivity changes from 10(-11) to 10(-2) S.cm(-1) depending on the percentage of CB in the composite. It was also observed that the conductivity varies reversibly and linearly with the applied pressure. The latter demonstrates that this material can be used as pressure sensors.

Influence of TiO2 and AI(2)O(3) on the electrical and microstructural properties of SnO2 ceramics obtained by the Pechini method

Tin oxide has wakened up great scientific and technological interest for its potential use in varistors production and as gas sensor. In order to improve the microstructural and electrical properties in SnO2 varistor ceramics, the influence of differents dopants used, like TiO2 and Al2O3, is under research. The effect of TiO2 and Al2O3 on the properties of Sn-Co-Nb varistor systems obtained by the Pechini method has been investigated in this work. Characterization of synthesized raw material was performed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). The microstructural and electrical characterization of sintered samples show that the TiO2 favors the grain growth and the Al2O3 contributes to the decrease it, effect that is manifested in the Sn-Co-Nb varistor systems. Breakdown field increase up to 6300V/cm with increasing Al2O3 content and non-linear coefficients with alpha=22 were obtained.

Estudo comparativo do desempenho de rebolos com grãos superabrasivos e convencionais

Grinding is a precision machining process which is widely used in the manufacture of components requiring fine tolerances and smooth surfaces. There are several imput parameters (cutting conditions, cutting fluid and grinding wheel type used, dressing conditions etc.) which can affect the process variables (tangential and normal cutting forces, roughness, grinding temperatures, G ratio, etc.) leading to differences in the roughness, in the surface integrity and in the mechanical strength of the ground component. Consequently, the imput parameters must be controlled in order to insure the workpiece final quality. This paper presents a comparative evaluation of the performance of two types of grinding wheels [a conventional (Al2O3) and a superabrasive (CBN)] when grinding a VC131 steel, by the analysis of specific process variables when varying the cutting conditions. Highest values of G ratio and lowest workpiece roughness was observed when using CBN grinding wheels. This confirms the global trend of replacement of alumina grinding wheels by CBN, when grinding DTG (difficult to grind) materials.

Dielectric and viscoelastic properties of cross-linked polyethylene aged under multi stressing conditions

Different measurements were performed in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) employed as insulating material in coaxial cables that were field-aged and laboratory-aged under multi-stressing conditions at room temperature. Samples were peeled from the XLPE cable insulation in three different positions: just below the external semiconductor layer (outer layer), in the middle (middle layer) and just above the internal semiconductor layer of the cable (inner layer). The imaginary part of the electric susceptibility showed three peaks that obey the Dissado-Hill model. For laboratory-aged XLPE samples peeled from the inner and from the middle positions the peak at very low frequency region increased while in samples from the outer position a quasi-DC conduction process was observed. In medium frequency range a broadening of the peak was observed for all samples. Viscoelastic properties determined through dynamic mechanical analysis suggested that the aging generates processes that promoted changes of the crystallinity and the cross-linking degrees of the polymer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements revealed an increase of oxidation products (esters), evidence of polar residues of the bow-tie tree and the presence of cross-linking by-products (acetophenone). Optical and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) measurements in aged samples revealed the existence of voids and bow-tie trees that were formed during aging in the middle region of the cable.

Behavior of the PMD coefficient of optical links under influence of mechanical and thermal effects

This papers presents results on the variation of the PMD coefficient of optical links under influence of mechanical tests, such as tensile strength, bending and compression, and also during the application of a thermal cycle. Results revealed that the link coefficient is more influenced by the application of a tension load and also suffers significant variation under strong temperature changes. Copyrigth © SBMO.

Bibliographical review of the used tyre in concrete

Due to the progressive increase of vehicles, the number of used tires is globally one of the serious environmental problems faced now. Therefore, several researches have being developed for its reuse. The use of tires' rubber in the concrete is a possible form of its a pplication, aiming a the recycling of this material and the improvement of certain properties, as tenacity, impact resistance, thermal and acoustic isolation. This article presents conclusions that several researchers obtained using the rubberized concrete. Thus there were researched several works enclosing the period of 1993 to 2003, presenting then the results of some characteristics of this concrete such as: physical properties in fresh and hardened state, mechanical properties and properties that remit the durability. The bibliographical revision has as objective to subsidize future researches that can contribute to improve the use of this concrete in civil construction.

Vertical and in-plane electrical transport in InAs/InP semiconductor nanostructures

Vertical and in-plane electrical transport in InAs/InP semiconductors wires and dots have been investigated by conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) and electrical measurements in processed devices. Localized I-V spectroscopy and spatially resolved current images (at constant bias), carried out using C-AFM in a controlled atmosphere at room temperature, show different conductances and threshold voltages for current onset on the two types of nanostructures. The processed devices were used in order to access the in-plane conductance of an assembly with a reduced number of nanostructures. On these devices, signature of two-level random telegraph noise (RTN) in the current behavior with time at constant bias is observed. These levels for electrical current can be associated to electrons removed from the wetting layer and trapped in dots and/or wires. A crossover from conduction through the continuum, associated to the wetting layer, to hopping within the nanostructures is observed with increasing temperature. This transport regime transition is confirmed by a temperature-voltage phase diagram. © 2005 Materials Research Society.

Electrical behavior of PU/POMA blends

The incorporation of conducting polymer into a conventional polymer matrix has received attention because of the possibility of combining the good processability and mechanical performance of the conventional polymer with the electrical and optical properties of conducting polymer. In this work, flexible films of polyurethane (PU) and Poli(o-metoxyaniline)(POMA) blends were obtained by casting and investigated using thermally stimulated depolarisation current (TSDC) measurements. Two relaxation peaks were found in the range of-20°C to 90°C. The first one at T=24°C was attributed as α relaxation associated to the glass transition of PU/POMA blend and the second one located at T=60°C can be attributed to space charge.

On numerical simulations of a nonlinear self-excited system with two non-ideal sources

In this work, the dynamic behavior of self-synchronization and synchronization through mechanical interactions between the nonlinear self-excited oscillating system and two non-ideal sources are examined by numerical simulations. The physical model of the system vibrating consists of a non-linear spring of Duffing type and a nonlinear damping described by Rayleigh's term. This system is additional forced by two unbalanced identical direct current motors with limited power (non-ideal excitations). The present work mathematically implements the parametric excitation described by two periodically changing stiffness of Mathieu type that are switched on/off. Copyright © 2005 by ASME.

Relationship between the dielectric and mechanical properties and the ratio of epoxy resin to hardener of the hybrid thermosetting polymers

The relationship between the dielectric properties (dielectric constant, ε′, and loss factor, ε; activation energy, E a) and the ratio of epoxy resin (OG) to hardener of the epoxy resin thermosetting polymers was investigated. The amplitude of the ε″ peak decreases with increasing OG content until about 73 wt.% and slightly increases at higher OG content. The temperature of the position of the ε″ peak increases with the increasing of OG content, reaching maximum values for compositions in the range of 67 and 73 wt.%, and then it decreases sharply at higher OG content. The activation energy obtained from dielectric relaxation increased with increasing wt.% OG up to around 70 wt.%. Further increase in concentration of OG up to 83 wt.% reduced E a. The curves of tensile modulus and fracture toughness mechanical properties as a function of OG content presented a similar behavior. ©2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Relationships between the curing conditions and some mechanical properties of hybrid thermosetting materials

The relationship between the heat of polymerization (ΔH) and activation energy (Ea) parameters, obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the ratio of epoxy resin to hardener of the thermosetting materials based on an organic-inorganic hybrid epoxy resin (OG) was investigated. Activation energy (Ea) and heat of polymerization (ΔH) increased with an increasing OG content, up to 70 wt%. Further increase in OG content to 80wt% reduced Ea and ΔH. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicates that the maximum cross-link density is obtained at 83 wt% OG, whereas fracture toughness and tensile modulus mechanical properties are maximized at 70 wt% OG. ©2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.