• S K Das

Articles written in Bulletin of Materials Science

• Specific surfaces and heat of adsorption of some indian clays by dye-adsorption technique

Adsorption of basic dye methylene blue by some Indian clays has been studied. BET plotting of the adsorption isotherms was applied to determine the specific surfaces of clays and heat of adsorption. About 10–20% lower values of specific surfaces were obtained when compared with the most accurate gas-adsorption BET results and its probable reasons discussed. The calculated heat of adsorption values confirm the physical adsorption.

• Evaluation of solid–liquid interface profile during continuous casting by a spline based formalism

A numerical framework has been applied which comprises of a cubic spline based collocation method to determine the solid–liquid interface profile (solidification front) during continuous casting process. The basis function chosen for the collocation algorithm to be employed in this formalism, is a cubic spline interpolation function. An iterative solution methodology has been developed to track the interface profile for copper strand of rectangular transverse section for different casting speeds. It is based on enthalpy conservation criteria at the solidification interface and the trend is found to be in good agreement with the available information in the literature although a point to point mapping of the profile is not practically realizable. The spline based collocation algorithm is found to be a reasonably efficient tool for solidification front tracking process, as a good spatial derivative approximation can be achieved incorporating simple modelling philosophy which is numerically robust and computationally cost effective.

• Effect of sillimanite beach sand composition on mullitization and properties of Al2O3–SiO2 system

Mullite was developed by reaction sintering of sillimanite beach sand and calcined alumina. Two varieties of sillimanite beach sand viz. S and Z having different compositions were selected. Synthesis and properties of mullite were very much dependent on the sillimanite beach sand composition. Presence of higher amount of impurities in the Z-variety of sillimanite sand favours the densification by liquid phase formation. Presence of zircon in Z-variety increases the hardness and fracture toughness. Alumina addition improves the mechanical/thermomechanical properties of the samples. Mullite retains the usual orthorhombic habit of sillimanite. Rounded to sub rounded zirconia dispersed within the mullite matrix of the sample ZA is noticed.

• Solid state sintering of lime in presence of La2O3 and CeO2

The sintering of lime by double calcination process from natural limestone has been conducted with La2O3 and CeO2 additive up to 4 wt.% in the temperature range 1500–1650°C. The results show that the additives enhanced the densification and hydration resistance of sintered lime. Densification is achieved up to 98.5% of the theoretical value with La2O3 and CeO2 addition in lime. Grain growth is substantial when additives are incorporated in lime. The grain size of sintered CaO (1600°C) with 4 wt.% La2O3 addition is 82 𝜇m and that for CeO2 addition is 50 𝜇m. The grains of sintered CaO in presence of additive are angular with pores distributed throughout the matrix. EDX analysis shows that the solid solubility of La2O3 and CeO2 in CaO grain is 2.9 and 1.7 weight %, respectively. The cell dimension of CaO lattice is 4.803 Å. This value decreases with incorporation of La2O3 and CeO2. The better hydration resistance of La2O3 added sintered lime compared to that of CeO2 added one, is related to the bigger grain size of the lime in former case.

• Ultra low and negative expansion glass–ceramic materials produced from pyrophyllite and blast furnace slag

Ultra low and negative expansion glass–ceramic materials have been obtained from pyrophyllite and blast furnace slag. The batch composition was modified with the addition of lithium carbonate, hydrated alumina, boric acid and nucleating agent (titania). The batch was melted at 1400°C followed by casting in the form of bars and annealed at 510°C for 4 h. The annealed specimens were subjected to heat treatment at predetermined temperatures selected from DTA study of the parent glass. Thermal expansion measurement and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the specimen nucleated at 545°C for 4 h and crystallized at 720°C for 2 h which resulted in negative coefficient of thermal expansion [(–) 9 to (–) 2 × 10$^{-7}/{}^\circ$C] over the temperature range (30–600°C) due to the formation of 𝛽-eucryptite while other heating schedule showed the formation of spodumene and lithium aluminium silicates. The samples showed excellent flexural strength value and varied in the range 120–200 MPa depending upon the phases present.

• Effect of substitution of sand stone dust for quartz and clay in triaxial porcelain composition

Quartz and kaolin were partially substituted by sand stone dust (a siliceous byproduct of Indian stone cutting and polishing industries) in a traditional triaxial porcelain composition consisting of kaolin, quartz and feldsper. The effect of substitution upon heating at different temperatures (1050–1150°C) were studied by measuring the linear shrinkage, bulk density, porosity and flexural strength. Qualititative phase and microstructural analysis on selected samples were carried out using XRD and SEM/EDX technique. The results show that the samples of all the batches achieved higher density (2.50 g/cc) and almost full vitrification (&lt;0.1% apparent porosity) at around 1115°C compared to around 1300°C for traditional triaxial porcelain composition. As high as 70 MPa flexural strength was obtained in most of the vitrified samples. No significant variation in physico-mechanical properties was observed in between the composition. XRD studies on selected samples show presence of mainly quartz phase both at low and high temperatures. SEM photomicrographs of the 1115°C heated specimen show presence of quartz grain and glassy matrix. Few quartz grains (20–40𝜇m) are associated with circumferential cracks around them.

• # Bulletin of Materials Science

Current Issue
Volume 42 | Issue 4
August 2019