Magnetoelectric (ME) effect has been studied in bi-rectangular structure made up of epoxy-bonded negative/positive magnetostrictive and piezoelectric flakes. The ME effect is affected by negative and positive magnetostrictive flakes. The ME voltage coefficient at resonance frequency shows a nearly constant plateau behavior with the bias magnetic field increased from 1 to 3.5 kOe. There is no interface between magnetostrictive and piezoelectric flakes required to achieve ME coupling, which provides a new choice to make ME devices.

In this work, antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) has been doped into MgB2 samples to act as an additive. The doping level varies from 2.5 to 15 wt%. The effects of Sb2O3 addition on the lattice parameters, critical temperature (Tc), critical current density (Jc), and upper critical field (Hc2) have been investigated in detail. It has been found that Sb2O3 doping results in a small depression in Tc. The Jc value is 2.4 × 103 A·cm−2 for the 2.5% Sb2O3-doped sample at 5 K and 8 T, which is more than two times higher than for the undoped sample. The significant Jc improvement at high fields is attributed to the Hc2 enhancement caused by the increased disorder.

The metal nanoparticles dispersed in matrices of composite material are able to apply in different technologies based on their peculiarity. This article reports the preparation of Ag/epoxy nanocomposite film with aligned Ag nanowires coated on glass substrate by multistep processing including synthesis of Ag nanowires by seed-mediated method, dispersion of Ag nanowires in the epoxy resin, and stretching to form the Ag/epoxy nanocomposite film. The results showed that Ag nanowires had been well aligned in the direction of stretching, both in the surface layer and in the internal of the film. Meanwhile, the Ag/epoxy nanocomposite film showed an obviously infrared polarization property in a broad wavelength range from 1600 to 2600 nm, with transmittance over 70%. The mechanisms for the orientation of Ag nanowires and the generation of polarization property of the films were discussed, respectively.

Diffusion of interstitial hydrogen atoms in α-iron was investigated using molecular dynamic simulation. In particular, hydrogen diffusivities in bulk, on (001) surface and within a Σ5 [100]/(013) symmetric tilt grain boundary (STGB) were estimated in a temperature range of 400 and 700 K. Furthermore, hydrogen diffusivities in a series of Σ5 [100] tilt grain boundaries with different inclinations were also determined as a function of temperature. The inclination dependence of activation energy for diffusion exhibits two local maxima, which correspond to two STGBs. Additional calculation of inclination dependence of boundary energy and boundary specific excess volume shows two local minima at the same STGBs. This suggests hydrogen diffusion into and within a grain boundary might be assisted by grain boundary excess volume and stress. Simulation of effects of hydrostatic pressure on diffusion shows tensile stress can promote hydrogen diffusion in lattice into grain boundary or surface traps, while compressive stress leads to a decrease in diffusivity, and a slower rate of filling these traps.

Tribological behavior of alumina-particle-reinforced aluminum composites made by powder metallurgy process has been investigated. The nanocomposite containing 15 vol% of Al2O3 nanoparticles exhibits excellent wear resistance by showing significantly low wear rate and abrasive wear mode. The wear rate of the nanocomposite is even lower than stainless steel. We have also demonstrated that such excellent wear resistance only occurred in the composite reinforced with the high volume fraction of nanosized reinforcing particles. The results were discussed in terms of the microstructure of the nanocomposite.

Highly graphitic carbons are obtained by precipitating carbon from molten steel inoculated with bismuth. Scanning electron microscopy images show that the products have a potato peel morphology. The inoculant leads to a breaking of the local symmetry of the graphitic structure as evidenced by Raman spectroscopic studies. The products exhibit flat charge–discharge profiles below about 200 mV versus Li+/Li, reversible capacities even exceeding the theoretical limit of 372 mAh/g for perfectly graphitic structures, low first-cycle irreversible capacities, and sustained hundreds of cycles.

Starch is an abundant, biodegradable, renewable, and low-cost commodity that has been explored as a replacement for petroleum-based plastics. By itself, starch is a poor replacement for plastics because of its moisture sensitivity and brittle properties. Using starch as a fermentation feedstock, various promising biodegradable plastic products have been developed that rival petroleum-based plastics and are poised to enter the marketplace or are already in production. Other starch-based plastics are blends with other compatible resins or are based on chemical treatments that improve the functional properties of various products. While these approaches are very promising, there are efforts under way to develop viable products from starch by using different processing technologies and by combining starch with other materials to make functional composites. This article focuses on different technologies for making starch-based foam materials and the use of reinforcing fibers and nanoparticles for making composites that can substitute for some petroleum-based foam products.