Hydrothermal Carbonate Mineralization, Calcretization, and Microbial Diagenesis Associated with Multiple Sedimentary Phases in the Upper Cretaceous Bekhme Formation, Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Hydrothermal diagenesis during the Zagros Orogeny produced three phases of saddle dolomites (SD1, SD2, and SD3) and two phases of blocky calcites (CI and CII) in the studied sections of Bekhme Formation (Fm) (Campanian–Maastrichtian). Field observations, as well as petrographic, cathodoluminescence (CL), Scanning Elecron Microscope (SEM), and oxygen–carbon isotope analyses, indicated that the unit went through multiple submergence–emergence phases after or during hydrothermal diagenesis. These phases resulted in a characteristic calcretized 2–6-m-thick layer within the Bekhme Fm. Several pedogenic textures (e.g., alveolar, pisolite, and laminar fabric microfeatures) were observed. Strong evidence of microbial alteration and diagenesis in this formation brings new insights into its depositional history. The microbial activities developed on the original mineral surface were associated with a great variety of processes including dissolution, re-precipitation, replacement, open-space fillings, microporosity development, grain bridging, and micritization. Probable oxalate pseudomorphs embedded in these fabrics and regular filaments preserved along crystal boundaries suggest the activity of fungi, while frequent coccoidal, rod-like, and chain-like forms attached to the surfaces of dolomitic and calcitic crystals point to bacterial colonization. Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was often visible with fungal and bacterial forms. These features, together with stable isotope data, invoke that near-surface conditions occurred sporadically in the Bekhme Fm after the first generation of hydrothermal dolomitization. These new findings allow recognition of unreported sedimentological phases based on new evidence in the Spelek–Sulauk area during the Upper Cretaceous.

Annealed Treatment Effect on the Mechanical Properties of the Cf/SiC Composites Using Y2O3/ Al2O3 Additions

In this investigation, the rare-earth oxide Y2O3combined with Al2O3served as sintering additives and commercial α-SiC powder were applied to fabricate Cf/SiC composites by hot-pressing sintering. The results proved that combination of Al2O3and Y2O3sintering additives was effective for densification of Cf/SiC composites. The influence of annealed temperature on the phase constitution, microstructure and mechanical properties of the Cf/SiC composites was detailed. The combination of grain bridging, crack deflection and fiber debonding can improve fracture toughness. Keywords: Pressing sintering, Mechanical Properties, Annealed Treatment

Alumina-Mullite Refractories: Prototypal Components Production for Thermal Shock Tests

Alumina-mullite refractory tiles are used as liners in gas turbines for power production, for the thermal insulation of the combustion chambers. The typical microstructure is characterized by a coarse fraction, in order to increase porosity (and hence thermal insulation) and improve thermal shock resistance (by grain bridging mechanism). A mixture of alumina and ceramic wastes was optimized to manufacture prototypal components, by cold isostatic press (CIP). On sintering at 1600°C, a final composition of 40% mullite and 60% alumina was obtained. For the production of refractory tiles with dimensions similar to the commercial ones, an appropriate mould was CAD-CAM designed and produced, using aluminium and silicone. 115 x 95 x 30 mm3 tiles were obtained and utilized for thermal shock tests. Samples were heated up to 1000°C and quenched to 20°C: this cycle was repeated 30 times before inspecting the macroscopic cracks. The results were compared with those obtained with a standard test for advanced technical ceramics based on MOR measurements. Two different pressing conditions were tested (60 and 150 MPa) in order to get data about a possible industrial production by uniaxial pressing.

Effect of La2O3 Content on Mechanical Properties and Toughened Mechanics of SiC Nanowires Toughened Cw/SiC Composites

In this paper, micrometers long and 20–100nm diameter SiC nanowires had been synthesized in the Cw/SiC composites by annealing treatment. The present work demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate in-situ SiC nanowires toughening Cw/SiC composites. La2O3 had a significant effect on the morphology and distribution of the SiC nanowires in the Cw/SiC composites. The excess lanthanum resulted in the growth of SiC nanowires with an increasing growth rate in the longitudinal direction and a decreasing growth rate in radial direction. The addition of La2O3 would improve the mechanical properties in the room-temperature. The vapor–liquid-solid growth mechanism of the SiC nanowires along <111> direction was proposed. The combination of grain bridging, crack deflection, whisker debonding and SiC nanowires can improve fracture toughness.

Structure and Performance of Self-Reactive Spray Formed Ti(C,N)-TiB2 Multi-Phased Ceramic Materials

Based on the Ti-B4C-sucrose(precursor of carbon) -5wt.% Al sprayed system, the self-reactive spray formed multi-phased structural ceramic preforms tests were done. And the organization, structure and performances of the products were studied. The results show that the products are composed of continuous matrix phase TiC0.3N0.7, dispersed micro/nanometric rodlike grains TiB2, some of Al2O3, pores and intermetallic phase Ti3Al which is hard to identify by SEM. Aluminum is benefit to improve organization, structure and performances of the products. The average density of the products is 97.7%, the Vickers hardness is 20.6GPa, and the flexural strength is 425MPa. There are crack deflection and grain bridging toughening mechanisms owing to the rodlike grains of TiB2 in the products, which makes their fracture toughness is as high as 7.3MPa•m1/2.