#Carbon nitride

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Researchers develop non-contact touch sensors for robotics

A radical new type of touch sensor for robotics and other bio-mimicking (bionic) applications is so sensitive it works even without direct contact between the sensor and the objects being detected. It senses interference in the electric field between an object and the sensor, at up to 100 millimeters from the object. The researchers at Qingdao University in China, with collaborators elsewhere in China and South Korea, describe their innovation in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. Electronic skins have become a crucial element in bionic robots, allowing them to detect and react to external stimuli promptly. This can allow robotic systems to analyze an object's shape, and, if required, also to pick it up and manipulate it.

Read more.

#Materials Science #Science #Robotics #Sensors #Biomimicry #Dielectric #Carbon nitride #Polydimethylsiloxane #Polymers #Carbon #Nitrides #Composites

[jcmarchi]

Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene, study finds

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/electrons-become-fractions-of-themselves-in-graphene-study-finds/

Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene, study finds

The electron is the basic unit of electricity, as it carries a single negative charge. This is what we’re taught in high school physics, and it is overwhelmingly the case in most materials in nature.

But in very special states of matter, electrons can splinter into fractions of their whole. This phenomenon, known as “fractional charge,” is exceedingly rare, and if it can be corralled and controlled, the exotic electronic state could help to build resilient, fault-tolerant quantum computers.

To date, this effect, known to physicists as the “fractional quantum Hall effect,” has been observed a handful of times, and mostly under very high, carefully maintained magnetic fields. Only recently have scientists seen the effect in a material that did not require such powerful magnetic manipulation.

Now, MIT physicists have observed the elusive fractional charge effect, this time in a simpler material: five layers of graphene — an atom-thin layer of carbon that stems from graphite and common pencil lead. They report their results today in Nature.

They found that when five sheets of graphene are stacked like steps on a staircase, the resulting structure inherently provides just the right conditions for electrons to pass through as fractions of their total charge, with no need for any external magnetic field.

The results are the first evidence of the “fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect” (the term “anomalous” refers to the absence of a magnetic field) in crystalline graphene, a material that physicists did not expect to exhibit this effect.

“This five-layer graphene is a material system where many good surprises happen,” says study author Long Ju, assistant professor of physics at MIT. “Fractional charge is just so exotic, and now we can realize this effect with a much simpler system and without a magnetic field. That in itself is important for fundamental physics. And it could enable the possibility for a type of quantum computing that is more robust against perturbation.”

Ju’s MIT co-authors are lead author Zhengguang Lu, Tonghang Han, Yuxuan Yao, Aidan Reddy, Jixiang Yang, Junseok Seo, and Liang Fu, along with Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan.

A bizarre state

The fractional quantum Hall effect is an example of the weird phenomena that can arise when particles shift from behaving as individual units to acting together as a whole. This collective “correlated” behavior emerges in special states, for instance when electrons are slowed from their normally frenetic pace to a crawl that enables the particles to sense each other and interact. These interactions can produce rare electronic states, such as the seemingly unorthodox splitting of an electron’s charge.

In 1982, scientists discovered the fractional quantum Hall effect in heterostructures of gallium arsenide, where a gas of electrons confined in a two-dimensional plane is placed under high magnetic fields. The discovery later won the group a Nobel Prize in Physics.

“[The discovery] was a very big deal, because these unit charges interacting in a way to give something like fractional charge was very, very bizarre,” Ju says. “At the time, there were no theory predictions, and the experiments surprised everyone.”

Those researchers achieved their groundbreaking results using magnetic fields to slow down the material’s electrons enough for them to interact. The fields they worked with were about 10 times stronger than what typically powers an MRI machine.

In August 2023, scientists at the University of Washington reported the first evidence of fractional charge without a magnetic field. They observed this “anomalous” version of the effect, in a twisted semiconductor called molybdenum ditelluride. The group prepared the material in a specific configuration, which theorists predicted would give the material an inherent magnetic field, enough to encourage electrons to fractionalize without any external magnetic control.

The “no magnets” result opened a promising route to topological quantum computing — a more secure form of quantum computing, in which the added ingredient of topology (a property that remains unchanged in the face of weak deformation or disturbance) gives a qubit added protection when carrying out a computation. This computation scheme is based on a combination of fractional quantum Hall effect and a superconductor. It used to be almost impossible to realize: One needs a strong magnetic field to get fractional charge, while the same magnetic field will usually kill the superconductor. In this case the fractional charges would serve as a qubit (the basic unit of a quantum computer).

Making steps

That same month, Ju and his team happened to also observe signs of anomalous fractional charge in graphene — a material for which there had been no predictions for exhibiting such an effect.

Ju’s group has been exploring electronic behavior in graphene, which by itself has exhibited exceptional properties. Most recently, Ju’s group has looked into pentalayer graphene — a structure of five graphene sheets, each stacked slightly off from the other, like steps on a staircase. Such pentalayer graphene structure is embedded in graphite and can be obtained by exfoliation using Scotch tape. When placed in a refrigerator at ultracold temperatures, the structure’s electrons slow to a crawl and interact in ways they normally wouldn’t when whizzing around at higher temperatures.

In their new work, the researchers did some calculations and found that electrons might interact with each other even more strongly if the pentalayer structure were aligned with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) — a material that has a similar atomic structure to that of graphene, but with slightly different dimensions. In combination, the two materials should produce a moiré superlattice — an intricate, scaffold-like atomic structure that could slow electrons down in ways that mimic a magnetic field.

“We did these calculations, then thought, let’s go for it,” says Ju, who happened to install a new dilution refrigerator in his MIT lab last summer, which the team planned to use to cool materials down to ultralow temperatures, to study exotic electronic behavior.

The researchers fabricated two samples of the hybrid graphene structure by first exfoliating graphene layers from a block of graphite, then using optical tools to identify five-layered flakes in the steplike configuration. They then stamped the graphene flake onto an hBN flake and placed a second hBN flake over the graphene structure. Finally, they attached electrodes to the structure and placed it in the refrigerator, set to near absolute zero.

As they applied a current to the material and measured the voltage output, they started to see signatures of fractional charge, where the voltage equals the current multiplied by a fractional number and some fundamental physics constants.

“The day we saw it, we didn’t recognize it at first,” says first author Lu. “Then we started to shout as we realized, this was really big. It was a completely surprising moment.”

“This was probably the first serious samples we put in the new fridge,” adds co-first author Han. “Once we calmed down, we looked in detail to make sure that what we were seeing was real.”

With further analysis, the team confirmed that the graphene structure indeed exhibited the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect. It is the first time the effect has been seen in graphene.

“Graphene can also be a superconductor,” Ju says. “So, you could have two totally different effects in the same material, right next to each other. If you use graphene to talk to graphene, it avoids a lot of unwanted effects when bridging graphene with other materials.”

For now, the group is continuing to explore multilayer graphene for other rare electronic states.

“We are diving in to explore many fundamental physics ideas and applications,” he says. “We know there will be more to come.”

This research is supported in part by the Sloan Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.

#2023 #Analysis #applications #atom #atomic #Behavior #boron nitride #carbon #Collective #computation #computer #computers #computing #crystalline #deal #dimensions #diving #effects #electricity #electrodes #electron #electronic #electrons #form #Forms #Foundation #Fundamental #Gallium #gas #graphene

[deadstonemasonssociety]

Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle and unveiled a near unbreakable substance that could rival diamond as the hardest material on Earth.

Researchers found that when carbon and nitrogen precursors were subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the resulting materials—known as carbon nitrides—were tougher than cubic boron nitride, the second hardest material after diamond.

#hardest material #carbon nitrides #boron nitride #diamond

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Table 7.3 contains a list of some advanced ceramic materials and they're properties, along with the properties of some metals in common use. (...) Table 7.3 shows that ceramics generally contain metals in relatively high positive oxidation states, combined with small nonmetals (e.g. O, N and C) with high negative oxidation states. (...) Actually, the ceramic compounds listed in table 7.3 possess substantial covalent bonding between the atoms.

"Chemistry" 2e - Blackman, A., Bottle, S., Schmid, S., Mocerino, M., Wille, U.

#book quotes #chemistry #nonfiction #textbook #ceramics #carbon #oxygen #nitrogen #diamond #boron nitride #titanium carbide #silicon carbide #zirconium carbide #tungsten carbide #titanium nitride #alumina #aluminum oxide #beryllia #beryllium oxide #zirconia #zirconium oxide #aluminum nitride #titania #titanium dioxide #stainless steel #steel #aluminum

[void-thing]

#robots #robot girl

[periodictabletournament]

i know boron isn't going to win, but i'd just like to say that it is the basis of the strongest acids in the world (together with carbon: the carborane acids.) give it a little love before it perishes

strongest acids, boron nitride that rivals diamond for hardness, honestly deserves a better reputation than it has

#periodic propaganda

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Are space elevators possible? Physicist says they could transform humanity into a 'spacefaring civilization'

Humanity's quest to explore—and, perhaps eventually, colonize—outer space has prompted a great many ideas about how precisely to go about it.

While conventional wisdom suggests that space launch via rockets is the best way to send human beings into orbit, other "non-rocket" methods have been proposed, including a futuristic "space elevator."

The concept of a space elevator—essentially a sky-high cable that would let humans climb into space—has been championed by some industry experts as a way to overcome the astronomical costs associated with sending people and cargo into space by rocket, says Alberto de la Torre, assistant professor of physics at Northeastern.

"Current launch systems are predominantly single-use and typically exceed $10,000 per kilogram of payload, totaling around $60 million per launch," de la Torre says. "Here's where space elevators are appealing."

First imagined by Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in the late 19th century, the space elevator would extend from the ground through the atmosphere, then past "geostationary orbit," an altitude where objects in space—pulled in by the Earth's gravity—orbit more or less in tandem with its rotation. Geostationary orbit is roughly 22,236 miles above the Earth's surface.

Effectively, a cable would descend from a satellite structure anchored in geostationary orbit that would act as a "counterweight" down to Earth.

Theoretically, a satellite positioned beyond geostationary orbit would act to stabilize the cable through a combination of forces: the Earth's gravitational pull, which would exert a downward force on it from the ground, and the centrifugal force of its rotation, which would exert an upward force on the cable from space. The interaction of forces would create an ideal tension—a tautness—necessary to sustain a cable of such length, de la Torre says.

"The key element of a space elevator is its cable, positioned at the Earth's equator and synchronized with the Earth's rotation," de la Torre says.

No proof of concept exists for a space elevator. While there have been several attempts at architectural designs, including an award-winning design by a British architect that recently bore a six-figure prize, numerous technical obstacles have kept the space elevator decades out of reach.

"A cable of such length [more than 22,236 miles above the Earth] isn't feasible with standard materials," de la Torre says. "If made of steel, the maximal tension it faces at geostationary orbit exceeds its tensile strength rating by over 60 times."

For an Earth-based space elevator, strategies to reduce tensile forces, or the ability of a material to withstand tension, are crucial, he says.

But there are some materials that carry promise. Boron nitride nanotubes, diamond nano threads and graphene—all materials with "low density and high tensile strengths"—could fit the bill, de la Torre says.

"Carbon nanotubes are proposed as an ideal material due to their high tensile strength," he says. "Recent research has raised concerns about the feasibility of translating their nano-scale properties to megastructures."

In the long-run, the space elevator's promise lies in its potential to make trips to outer space significantly more economical. "The cost of putting a payload beyond a geostationary orbit can be cut to just a few hundred dollars per kilogram," de la Torre says.

"While the initial investment in a space elevator might be substantial—akin to the expense of developing and launching the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit, the costs could be recouped after successfully launching a mere few tons of payload," he says.

"With the continuous evolution of materials sciences, space technology and engineering, the concept of space elevators shouldn't be ruled out in the not-so-distant future," de la Torre says.

Until those breakthroughs in materials science arrive, the space elevator may only continue to serve as fodder for science fiction enthusiasts.

"Space elevators, in essence, hold the promise of transforming humanity into a spacefaring civilization," de la Torre says. "They could present a safe, cost-efficient avenue to bring into orbit the heavy payloads needed for hypothetical space stations, asteroid mining or developing extraterrestrial habitats."

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics

[literallymechanical]

How do you test the purity/look for structural defects in CNTs? SEM?

Short answer: Yes, among other things.

Long answer: Carbon nanotubes (CNT's) are long, straight tubes of pure carbon, with the atoms arranged like rolled-up sheets of hexagonal chicken wire. Sometimes an atom or two will be misplaced, introducing a defect. The easiest kind of defect to visualize is a kink, like this:

(Source)

This is an AFM (atomic force microscope) image of a nanotube on a glass wafer, placed across four gold electrodes. That sharp kink in the tube is a weak spot.

(Side note: you can tell it's an AFM image because it's got really chunky raster lines. AFM's are fun. You drag an atomically-sharp diamond needle across a surface and measure the needle deflection with a laser. You can get the resolution down to less than a nanometer, if you hold your breath. I once spent a summer internship doing nothing but poking at graphene in an AFM for two months. Very repetitive work, but I got two publications out of it!)

However, it's rarely useful to look at individual CNT's outside of pure research. I worked with nanotube yarn in large-scale production. Large, twisted bundles of tubes, similar to this:

(Source)

This is an SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of high-quality nanotube yarn. Each of those thin whispy strands is probably a couple hundred nanotubes, and the entire structure is twisted smoothly together out of hundreds of thousands. At this point, you're less interested in the quality of individual tubes and more interested in the bulk properties of the yarn itself.

So, once you've verified it visually by SEM, the easiest way to characterize the strength of your nanotube yarn is to pull on it until it breaks.

(Source: High-strength carbon nanotube fibers by twist-induced self-strengthening)

This is a thick ribbon of compressed CNTs, twisted into a chunky pseudo-yarn. The graph shows that the fiber snapped at around 3.7 gigapascals of stress. That's five or six times stronger than steel, and four-ish times stronger than spider silk. Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) would be stronger, but that's a post for another day.

Anyway, this might seem impressive, but tbh those are rookie numbers. Twisted-ribbon "yarn" is a cheap and easy way to make strong nanotube fibers, but not nearly as good as a true yarn.

Don't tell the authors I said that.

The other point you brought up is testing for purity.

(source)

This picture is about twenty years old, back when we really had no idea what we were doing. By modern standards, this is hideously embarrassing. It's covered in blobs of leftover iron catalyst. It's an ugly garbage nanotube.

Don't tell the authors I said that.

There can be all sorts of contaminants. Bits of catalyst (usually iron or nickel) random ceramic or metal junk from your furnace, even leftover acid (chlorosulfonic acid is one of the only things that will un-stick carbon nanotubes, though it's an extremely bad chemical that hates you). It's always important to characterize how much nanotube is in your nanotubes.

Handily enough, the best way to test for purity is with the same electron microscope!

One effect of sweeping an electron beam across a target is that the target will emit x-rays as its electrons jump around. These x-rays are extremely predictable, and will have an energy that directly corresponds to the atom that produced them. So assuming that your SEM also has the right kind of x-ray sensor, you click a button and switch over the EDX mode, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

(source)

This EDX graph shows high concentrations of iron (Fe), oxygen, and carbon in the sample (the silicon is likely from a glass mounting slide). If this were a bunch of CNT's, you'd hope to see almost entirely carbon, with maybe a little bit of iron or nickel. Uh oh!

Happily, this isn't nanotubes.

(source)

It's Rimicaris exoculata, a deep-sea shrimp that lives on hydrothermal vents and builds itself a little shell of iron oxide. Isn't that fun?

#nanotech #engineering #science

[your-god-empress-lavender]

Calcium sulphur batteries (uwu)

Okay, so, i've become interested in z-pinch studies for aerospace purposes (i'm really excited about the prospects, everything works on paper, but i naturally want to actually witness p+N14 fusion for above 0.01% of available protons before i go trying to get the materials to build a real liquid fueled SSTO fusion rocket, especially since there are thousands of folks way smarter than me who have presumably thought of this before and we don't have it yet, so yeah). Anyways, if i want the extremely large electricity input without making my electricity bill higher than a whole month's rent and getting my roommates mad at me, i'll need to collect solar or wind in a battery bank. Since lithium batteries are just about all immoral and expensive (yes i am writing this on a device powered by lithium batteries, it would be lovely if capitalists would take a hint and switch to things that just objectively perform better and are cheaper, but whatever), i figured this would be a nice excuse to experiment around with some new battery designs. Since all of them will require sulphur, i won't be able to really get into it before mid may due to some concerns about the smell and risks of getting sulphur powder everywhere (it's very yellow and hard to clean out), but i felt i might as well share my preliminary ideas. First off, in order to make the organic sulphur polymer, i'm looking to explore mostly citrate based polymers, perhaps with phenylalanine mixed in in order to both give more bulk as well as providing nitrogens for sulphenamides to form. Since i'll need urea later, i was also considering partially polymerizing urea with citric acid and adding that into the molten sulphur mix, but i'm less confident in the stability of that and a bit concerned about the potential noxious fumes produced. Regardless, that's the short of the sulphur cathode, details will definitely change after i refind that paper which went over a great way of preventing insoluble polysulphide production. I'm also gonna experiment with anode material and even the ions i use. I know i said "calcium sulphur batteries" in the title, but due to how common aluminium is and how much easier magnesium is to work with (and the fact that their specific energies are higher), i'll also be considering those two. Even beyond that, there are so many potential anode materials, including even amorphous carbon and carbon nitrides which i'd love to test since there's just so much to improve on and i'd rather do a lot of experiments with cheap to make materials and potentially land on a great solution than accept something subpar because it took less effort. Anyways, of the materials i plan on using, there's magnesium sulphate, aluminium sulphate, calcium chloride, potentially other calcium salts (is the salt with taurine soluble in water? IDK, can't find an answer so i'll test it), charcoal, vegetable oil, urea, and phenylalanine. Those may seem like an unrelated hodgepodge of compounds, but they've been chosen because they're what i have/will soon have and they're also all extremely cheap. If the urea works out well in the battery, i may have to make this project a meme and attempt to make a z-pinch device with as much urine as possible (use it to make ammonia for the plasma, to make the batteries, and i'm sure there's some way to use urine in a capacitor (maybe just distilling off the water to use as a dielectric? idk, it's been a while since i tried making a capacitor)).

Anyway, i really didn't expect this long trainwreck of a post to end with discussions of urine, but what can you do? This is all probably nonsensical, even by my standards, but basically i want batteries and i think i can make them cheaper per megajoule of stored energy than the ones i could buy, even accounting for the inevitable failed experiments.

#utter nonsense #chemistry? #batteries #calcium sulphur batteries are cool i guess #z-pinch shit #almost certainly the beginning of a ton of failures #fortunately i should be able to afford all the chemicals with less than 1 month of income (after rent and utilities and whatnot) #sulphur is so cheap #so am i lol #idk if i want to attempt to make my own solar or wind farm or just buy some turbines or solar cells #turbines are pretty easy so i might build some myself #magnets are relatively cheap and i can use them for other things #and if you know where to look (trashcans behind the college) wire is free #and to make the turbine blades i can just take some sheet metal from the same dumpsters as the wire #alternatively i could just try charging the batteries during off-hours when electricity is super cheap #or making a simple biofuel engine #i should also look into making the capacitors #good bye!

[nanotechnologyworld]

In nanotube science, is boron nitride the new carbon?

https://www.nanotechnologyworld.org/post/in-nanotube-science-is-boron-nitride-the-new-carbon

#nanotechnology #nanomaterials #graphene #aeronautics #materialsscience #materialsengineering #space #innovation #scienceandtechnology #engineering

[viratsteelspecial-blog]

Are you looking for HCHCR-D2 steel? Looking HCHCR-D2 steel for your Cold Work Steel Industries? #d2steel #d2 #specialsteel #clodworksteel

HCHCR D2 is a type of tool steel that is commonly used in India for making cold stamping or forming dies, cold forming rolls, chipper knives, punches, slitters, shear blades, tools, tyre shredders, trimming, cutting threading dies, stamping tools, and more. Virat Special Steels is the largest supplier and stockiest of HCHCR D2 in India.

D2 Steel Consolidates maximum wear resistance, great durability, exceptional front line maintenance and treating resistance. 12 % ledeburitic chromium steel. It can be nitride after special heat treatment. It can be utilized as threading rolls and dies, icy trimming, cutting and stamping tools for sheet thickness's up to 6 mm, accuracy cutting instruments for sheet thicknesses up to 12 mm.

D2 tool steel is a high-carbon, high-chromium cold work steel. It is a type of tool steel, which means it is primarily used to make cutting and shaping tools such as dies, punches, and molds. D2 tool steel is known for its high wear resistance, toughness, and hardness, making it a popular choice for industrial applications that require durable and reliable tooling. It also has good dimensional stability, meaning it can maintain its shape and size even under high stress and temperature conditions. Overall, D2 tool steel is a versatile and reliable material that is widely used in the manufacturing industry.

Applications: HCHCR D2 tool steel applicable for cold stamping or forming dies, cold forming rolls, Chipper knives, Punches, slitters, shear blades, tools, tyre shredders, trimming, cutting threading dies, stamping tools etc.

Mode of Supply: Virat Special Steels is the largest Supplier & Stockiest of HCHCR D2 in #India.Consult our team who will assist you for HCHCR D2/ DIN 2379/ AISI D2 steel query.

Learn more: https://www.viratsteels.com/hchcr-d2.html

Any further queries feel free to contact us : Corporate Office, #Gurgaon Administrative Office, #Ludhiana Email: [email protected]. or Call Us: 098140 21775

#metalworking #metallurgy #iso9001 #engineering #steel #db6steel #toolsteel #toolsteelsupplier #viratsteels #viratsteelsindia #d2 #d2steel #makeinindia #forging #quality #india #ludhiana #gurugram #pune #maharashtra #punjab #haryana #delhi #delhincr

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Newly created ultra-hard material rivals diamond

Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle and unveiled a near unbreakable substance that could rival diamond as the hardest material on Earth. The research is published in the journal Advanced Materials. Researchers found that when carbon and nitrogen precursors were subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the resulting materials—known as carbon nitrides—were tougher than cubic boron nitride, the second hardest material after diamond. The breakthrough opens doors for multifunctional materials to be used for industrial purposes including protective coatings for cars and spaceships, high-endurance cutting tools, solar panels and photodetectors, experts say. Materials researchers have attempted to unlock the potential of carbon nitrides since the 1980s, when scientists first noticed their exceptional properties, including high resistance to heat.

Read more.

#Materials Science #Science #Diamonds #Materials hardness #Carbon #Nitrides #Carbon nitride #Materials testing #University of Edinburgh

[jcmarchi]

Chemists find new way to rid boron nitride nanotubes of impurities - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/chemists-find-new-way-to-rid-boron-nitride-nanotubes-of-impurities-technology-org/

Chemists find new way to rid boron nitride nanotubes of impurities - Technology Org

Very strong, light materials that can withstand extremely high temperatures could usher in next-generation spacecraft, enhance current devices or enable the development of new biomedical imaging or hydrogen storage applications. To this end, Rice University scientists in the lab of Angel Martí have uncovered a new way to make high-purity boron nitride nanotubes, hollow cylindrical structures that can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius (~1652 Fahrenheit) while also being stronger than steel by weight.

Scanning electron microscopy images of the starting material (from left), the material resulting from the high-concentration phosphoric acid treatment and the purified boron nitride nanotubes. Image credit: Martí group/Rice University

According to a study published in Chemistry of Materials, Rice researchers figured out how to get rid of hard-to-remove impurities in boron nitride nanotubes using phosphoric acid and fine-tuning the reaction.

“The challenge is that during the synthesis of the material, in addition to tubes, we end up with a lot of extra stuff,” said Kevin Shumard, a chemistry doctoral student and lead author of the study. “As scientists, we want to work with the purest material we can so that we limit variables as we experiment. This work gets us one step closer to making materials with a potential to revamp whole industries when used as additives to metals or ceramic composites to make those even stronger.”

The “extra stuff” that usually mars the quality and usefulness of the nanotubes are boron nitride cages ⎯ hollow sphere-shaped structures that encapsulate boron particles. A paper that showed phosphoric acid acted as a boron nitride wetting agent inspired the researchers to explore whether they could use the acid to remove the cages.

“We didn’t expect a reaction,” said Martí, professor of chemistry, bioengineering and materials science and nanoengineering, chair of chemistry and faculty director of the Rice Emerging Scholars Program.

And, indeed, at room temperature, nothing happened. But when they heated things up, the researchers got a surprise.

“When we looked through the microscope, we saw no tubes and no cages,” Martí said. “Instead, there were pyramids.”

The researchers learned that the high temperatures and acid concentrations were destructive for the boron nitride, so they revised their hypothesis and instead aimed to tune the reaction to destroy only unwanted structures in the material.

“Through a lot of experimentation, we developed a completely new direction for purification of nanotubes,” Shumard said. “I have spent a lot of time in front of an electron microscope and have read a lot of papers with images of boron nitride nanotubes. The material that we can make is by far the purest tubes that I have seen when compared to others.”

Kevin Shumard Illustration by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University

The researchers plan to continue their efforts to improve reaction yields so as to produce enough nanotubes to make fibers, which could be a suitable and more sustainable alternative to steel.

“Nitrogen makes up 70% of our atmosphere, and boron is highly abundant in rocks,” Shumard said. “This work could be a stepping stone to much better building materials both in terms of strength and in terms of sustainability.”

The structure of boron nitride nanotubes is very similar to that of carbon nanotubes, and so are some of their properties such as tensile strength and thermal conductivity. However, boron nitride nanotubes are more resilient, and some of their properties are complementary to their carbon counterparts.

“For example, carbon nanotubes can be electrical conductors or semiconductors, while boron nitride nanotubes are insulators,” Martí said. “The science on boron nitride nanotubes is not as well developed as the science on carbon nanotubes ⎯ a gap we were hoping to address in our research because we think the ability to produce pure boron nitride nanotubes efficiently and reliably could be important for a wide range of industries.”

Source: Rice University

You can offer your link to a page which is relevant to the topic of this post.

#applications #atmosphere #bioengineering #boron nitride #Building #carbon #carbon nanotubes #challenge #chemistry #Chemistry & materials science news #composites #conductors #development #devices #direction #electron #Faculty #fibers #gap #how #how to #hydrogen #illustration #images #Imaging #indeed #Industries #insulators #Light #Link

[advanced-ceramics]

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#advanced ceramics #semiconductor #silicon carbide #zircornia

[creativeworld111]

The Future of LED Manufacturing: Exploring Innovations in LED Production, Sustainability, and Recycling Practices.

The world is undergoing a rapid transition towards sustainable technologies, and one area where significant advancements are being made is in LED manufacturing. As the demand for LED lighting continues to rise, manufacturers including LED Lights Manufacturer in Kochi, Kerala, are pioneering new techniques and practices to enhance production efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and create a circular economy for LED products. In this blog post, we will delve into the future of LED manufacturing, exploring innovative approaches in LED production, sustainability, and recycling practices.

Advancements in LED Production

MicroLEDs, even smaller than standard LEDs, are pushing the boundaries of display technology. Imagine wafer-thin, high-resolution TVs or flexible lighting panels – all thanks to advancements in microLED production.

Researchers are exploring new materials for LED production. Gallium nitride (GaN) remains the dominant material, but alternatives like perovskites offer the potential for lower costs and improved efficiency.

Organic LEDs (OLEDs) are another area of intense research. Advancements in OLED technology could lead to even thinner, more flexible displays with superior color accuracy and energy efficiency.

Sustainable Practices in LED Manufacturing

Resource Reduction: Manufacturers are focusing on minimizing resource consumption during production. This includes using recycled materials, optimizing production processes, and reducing waste generation.

Energy Efficiency Focus: The focus is shifting towards utilizing renewable energy sources to power LED manufacturing facilities. This not only reduces the industry’s carbon footprint but also ensures a more sustainable future.

Eco-Friendly Materials: Research into biodegradable and recyclable materials for LEDs is ongoing. This could revolutionize the disposal process, minimizing environmental impact at the end of an LED’s lifespan.

LED Recycling and Circular Economy

Currently, LED recycling presents a challenge. However, with growing awareness and technological advancements, the future is optimistic.

Designing for Demise: Manufacturers are starting to design LEDs with disassembly and recycling in mind. This allows for easier material separation and recovery at the end of the product’s life cycle.

Advanced Recycling Technologies: New technologies are being developed to efficiently extract valuable materials like rare earth metals from used LEDs. This recovered material can then be reintroduced into the production process, creating a closed-loop system.

Government Regulations: Governments around the world are starting to implement regulations for LED recycling, encouraging manufacturers to develop more sustainable practices.

The future of LED manufacturing is illuminated by innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to a circular economy. As advancements in production, materials, and recycling practices continue, LEDs will become not just an energy-efficient lighting solution, but a truly environmentally responsible one. This paves the way for a brighter future, quite literally, for our planet. Find the best collection of LED Lights in Kochi from Dewton LED.

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Industrial Carbide Blades and Knives: Unveiling BAUCOR's Advanced Capabilities

In manufacturing, precision, durability, and efficiency are paramount. The tools must meet stringent standards, whether cutting through rigid materials like metal, plastic, or wood or slicing with intricate detail. It is where industrial carbide blades and knives come into play, revolutionizing how various industries cut and shape materials. Among the leading manufacturers in this domain stands BAUCOR, renowned for its exceptional capabilities and cutting-edge solutions.

Understanding Industrial Carbide Blades and Knives

Understanding the role of industrial carbide blades and knives in contemporary manufacturing processes is essential before exploring BAUCOR's potential. Renowned for its remarkable hardness and resistance to wear and abrasion, carbide is a compound of carbon and other elements like tungsten, titanium, or tantalum. CBN improves the cutting effectiveness and longevity of knives and blades when installed.

Industrial carbide blades cut various materials, such as composites, rubber, textiles, metals, and plastics. Compared to traditional steel blades, these blades are better at precise cutting operations and have longer edge retention. Similarly, industrial carbide knives are frequently used for various industrial sectors' slicing, slitting, and shearing tasks.

Historical Evolution of Carbide Cutting Tools

The development of carbide-cutting tools began in the early 1900s, a time of substantial progress in both production methods and material research.

Initially, because of their remarkable hardness and wear resistance, carbide materials were primarily utilized in industrial settings. For example, tungsten carbide has revolutionized the cutting tool industry by providing better performance than conventional steel tools.

Carbide-cutting tools had to deal with Brittleness and short tool life in the early phases of development. To get over these restrictions, producers started to improve carbide compositions and processing methods through continued study and testing.

An important turning point in the development of carbide-cutting tools was the invention of sintering procedures, which made it possible to produce intricate designs and increase tool longevity. Furthermore, by lowering wear and friction, developments in carbide coatings, such as titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), significantly improved tool performance.

Technological advancements persisted in propelling the development of carbide-cutting tools during the twentieth century. Tool design and production procedures were transformed by computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), which made it possible to create highly specialized and effective carbide-cutting solutions suited to particular applications.

Generally, the pursuit of ever-greater performance, robustness, and adaptability has defined the historical development of carbide-cutting tools. CBN cutting tools are now essential components of contemporary manufacturing, promoting accuracy, productivity, and efficiency in various sectors.

Advantages of Industrial Carbide Blades and Knives

The selection of cutting tools in industrial manufacturing can significantly impact production operations' productivity, accuracy, and general quality. Because they are made of carbide materials, industrial carbide blades and knives have many benefits that make them valuable assets in various industries. The following are some significant benefits of using industrial knives and carbide blades in manufacturing operations:

1. Exceptional Hardness and Wear Resistance

Industrial carbide knives and blades are well known for being incredibly durable and robust. Carbide materials have hardness levels that are far higher than those of conventional steel blades. They are usually made of tungsten carbide grains linked with cobalt, titanium, or tantalum. 

Because of their innate hardness, carbide knives and blades stay sharp for extended periods—even after exposure to abrasive materials or high-speed cutting processes. Consequently, carbide tools provide longer tool life and fewer blade replacements, which save money and increase production.

2. Superior Cutting Performance

Superior cutting capability on various materials results from carbide materials' remarkable hardness and wear resistance. Industrial carbide blades and knives are excellent at producing precise, clean cuts with little effort on various materials, including metals, plastics, rubber, composites, and textiles. Their capacity to stay sharp and retain cutting integrity under harsh conditions guarantees reliable, high-caliber output, making them essential components of contemporary production processes.

3. Enhanced Durability and Longevity

Industrial carbide blades and knives have better longevity and durability than traditional steel blades. Thanks to carbide materials ' hardness and wear resistance, these tools can endure the harsh conditions of industrial cutting settings, such as high temperatures, abrasive materials, and extended use. Because of this, carbide knives and blades show less wear and edge distortion, resulting in longer tool life and less downtime for replacing missing blades. This robustness lowers total maintenance costs, increases manufacturing process reliability, and boosts operational efficiency.

4. Precision Cutting Capabilities

Precision is paramount in many industrial manufacturing applications, where even minor deviations can lead to costly errors or product defects. Tight tolerances and complex cutting geometries are made possible by the remarkable precision cutting abilities of industrial carbide blades and knives. 

With unmatched precision, carbide tools provide consistent and accurate cuts on complex forms, tiny details, and elaborate patterns. In addition to guaranteeing the integrity and quality of final goods, this accuracy helps manufacturers increase manufacturing process efficiency and reproducibility.

5. Versatility Across Multiple Applications

Industrial carbide knives and blades have several uses in various industries, which is one of its main benefits. Carbide tools are used in many industrial areas, such as food processing, medical device production, automotive, and aerospace.

They are invaluable assets in shearing, slitting, slicing, and shaping applications because they can cut various materials precisely and efficiently. Because of its adaptability, manufacturers may easily adjust to changing production requirements, improve their cutting operations, and eliminate the need for different tool settings.

Capabilities of BAUCOR

BAUCOR stands out as a shining example of excellence in the ever-evolving realm of industrial cutting solutions due to its precision, efficiency, and dependability. Having a deep knowledge that standard solutions might only sometimes be adequate, BAUCOR is proud of its capacity to provide tailored blade and knife solutions that address the particular requirements of various sectors. 

Beyond customization, BAUCOR's capabilities include state-of-the-art manufacturing methods, strict quality control procedures, unmatched industry knowledge, and steadfast client support. To comprehend why BAUCOR is at the forefront of precision cutting solutions, let's closely examine each component.

Customization: Crafting Tailored Solutions

BAUCOR recognizes that every industrial cutting application has unique requirements and challenges. Thus, the business gives its clients more leverage by offering bespoke blade and knife solutions. BAUCOR makes sure that every product is precisely designed to fit the exact demands of its clients, whether that means improving blade geometry, selecting specific materials, or changing dimensions. 

In addition to improving performance and efficiency, this dedication to customization encourages creativity by enabling clients to experiment with novel ideas for their production procedures.

Advanced Manufacturing Techniques: Precision Perfected

The core of BAUCOR's operations is its commitment to utilizing state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques and technology. The company's cutting-edge facilities, furnished with the newest hardware and software, allow computer-aided design (CAD) and computer numerical control (CNC) machining operations to be seamlessly integrated. 

From the initial stages of design to the final stages of finishing, every stage of the production process is painstakingly carried out to maintain the highest levels of accuracy and consistency. Using cutting-edge production processes, BAUCOR ensures that its knives and blades are of the highest caliber and function exceptionally well, creating new standards for the sector.

Quality Assurance: Uncompromising Commitment to Excellence

At BAUCOR, quality is more than just a catchphrase; it's a core value permeating all aspects of the business's operations. BAUCOR employs strict quality control methods throughout manufacturing to retain its commitment to excellence. 

Each blade and knife is put through a rigorous inspection and testing process following international standards and certifications to ensure optimal performance, durability, and reliability. By prioritizing quality assurance, BAUCOR gives its consumers trust that every product bearing its name satisfies the strictest quality standards.

Industry Expertise: Navigating Complex Challenges

Across a wide range of industries, BAUCOR has unmatched industry experience thanks to its team of seasoned engineers and technicians. With years of experience and a thorough grasp of different sectors and their particular cutting issues, the professionals at BAUCOR work closely with clients to create solutions specifically suited to their demands. 

Whether a client wants to explore new avenues, overcome technical challenges, or optimize cutting processes, BAUCOR's industry experience acts as a beacon of light, enabling them to maximize productivity and efficiency.

Customer Support: Partnerships Beyond Products

Beyond delivering cutting-edge solutions, BAUCOR is committed to fostering long-term customer partnerships. The company's commitment to customer service goes well beyond the point of sale; it includes continuous support and direction for the product lifecycle. 

BAUCOR goes above and beyond to guarantee client satisfaction at every touchpoint, from providing technical guidance and troubleshooting help to arranging accelerated delivery services. By placing a high value on timeliness, dependability, and openness, BAUCOR cultivates customer loyalty and trust, solidifying its standing as a reliable partner in their success.

Conclusion

In conclusion, BAUCOR's manufacturing process for circular slitter blades epitomizes consumers' evolving needs and commitment to quality. With state-of-the-art facilities, advanced machining techniques, and rigorous quality control measures, BAUCOR consistently delivers blades that meet the highest performance and reliability standards. From carefully selecting premium raw materials to crafting intricate blade geometries, every step of BAUCOR's manufacturing process is executed with precision and attention to detail. By prioritizing continuous improvement and innovation, BAUCOR remains at the forefront of the industry, ensuring that its circular slitter blades meet customers' evolving needs across diverse sectors. With a steadfast dedication to excellence, BAUCOR sets the benchmark for manufacturing excellence in industrial blades, reaffirming its position as a trusted partner for businesses worldwide.

Reference list:

Baucor(Irvine, California). Industrial Carbide Blades and Knives: Unveiling BAUCOR's Advanced Capabilities. [https://www.baucor.com/blogs/news/carbide-blade-proficiency]