The is a comprehensive review on the needs and potential storage technologies for electrical grid that is expected to integrate significant levels of renewables. This review offers details of the technologies, in terms of needs, status, challenges and future R&d directions.

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Electrochemical Energy Storage for Green Grid

There have been a number of review papers on layered silicate and carbon nanotube reinforced polymer nanocomposites, in which the fillers have high aspect ratios. Particulate–polymer nanocomposites containing fillers with small aspect ratios are also an important class of polymer composites. However, they have been apparently overlooked. Thus, in this paper, detailed discussions on the effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on the stiffness, strength and toughness of such particulate–polymer composites are reviewed. To develop high performance particulate composites, it is necessary to have some basic understanding of the stiffening, strengthening and toughening mechanisms of these composites. A critical evaluation of published experimental results in comparison with theoretical models is given.

/pdf/effects-of-particle-size-particle-matrix-interface-adhesion-yv055zq7xi.pdf

Effects of particle size, particle/matrix interface adhesion and particle loading on mechanical properties of particulate–polymer composites

https://zirconia.typepad.com/files/zirconia-as-a-ceramic-biomaterial---piconi---biomaterials-1999.pdf

Zirconia as a ceramic biomaterial

In this review the phenomenon of proton conductivity in materials and the elements of proton conduction mechanismsproton transfer, structural reorganization and diffusional motion of extended moietiesare discussed with special emphasis on proton chemistry. This is characterized by a strong proton localization within the valence electron density of electronegative species (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen) and self-localization effects due to solvent interactions which allows for significant proton diffusivities only when assisted by the dynamics of the proton environment in Grotthuss and vehicle type mechanisms. In systems with high proton density, proton/proton interactions lead to proton ordering below first-order phase transition rather than to coherent proton transfers along extended hydrogen-bond chains as is frequently suggested in textbooks of physical chemistry. There is no indication for significant proton tunneling in fast proton conduction phenomena for which almost barrierless proton transfer is suggest...

Proton Conductivity: Materials and Applications

http://fcbt.mse.gatech.edu/PDF/Bersra2007.pdf

A review on fundamentals and applications of electrophoretic deposition (EPD)

Previous models for crack-particle interactions in brittle composites are modified to account for penetrable obstacles, obstacle shape and secondary crack interactions. The modified model is applied to a glass-unbonded nickel sphere composite system, the experimental aspects of which were summarized in Part 1. Increases in fracture energy are explained in terms of local crack blunting. It is shown that these results fall, as expected, between those for an entirely sharp crack front and an entirely blunt one.

Fracture of a brittle particulate composite

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)/Al2O3 laminar microcomposites with a total of 80 layers, each as thin as ∼2 μm, were fabricated by electrophoretic deposition. Positively charged YSZ or Al2O3 powders were deposited on a cathode, layer by layer from 10 wt% solids/ethanol suspensions. The suspensions were characterized by their rate of deposition as a function of voltage. The deposited samples had a green density of ∼60% of theoretical. The microstructure of the sintered, theoretically dense samples was characterized by optical and electron microscopy, and microindentation was used to explore the mechanical properties.

Structural Ceramic Microlaminates by Electrophoretic Deposition

A study was made of the fracture process in a model brittle composite containing nickel spheres in a glass matrix. The macroscopic fracture characteristics of the system were determined by fracture surface energy, fracture strength and elastic modulus measurements. The microstructures of the composites were defined using quantitative microscopy and the fracture process was studied by the technique of ultrasonic fractography. This procedure traced changes in the crack front configuration and local crack velocity as the crack interacted with the array of nickel particles.

Fracture of a brittle particulate composite: Part 1 Experimental aspects

Constant current electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has been used to synthesise Al2O3/YSZ,Al2O3/MoSi2, A12O3/Ni and YSZ/Ni functionally graded materials (FGM). EPD is a cheap and simple technique to fabricate complicated ceramic shapes. By this technique it is possible to synthesize step FGMs as well as continuous-profile FGMs. The profile can be controlled precisely by controlling the deposition current density, second component flow rate, suspension concentration, etc. The microstructures of the FGMs produced were characterized by optical and electron microcopy and micro-indentation was used to track the Vicker's hardness and fracture toughness variation across the composition profiles.

Functionally graded ceramic/ceramic and metal/ceramic composites by electrophoretic deposition

Alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) powders have been dispersed in ethanol (EtOH) solutions of different acidity. In aqueous media, acidity is defined by pH. This definition can be extended to nonaqueous media using ion-transfer functions. The electrical charge on the particle surfaces has been found to be acidity dependent. The electrostatic stability of Al 2 O 3 -EtOH suspensions has been evaluated via electrophoresis and turbidity. An electrostatic stabilization mechanism is proposed and analyzed via Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory.

Patrick S. Nicholson

Papers

Fracture of a brittle particulate composite

Structural Ceramic Microlaminates by Electrophoretic Deposition

Fracture of a brittle particulate composite: Part 1 Experimental aspects

Functionally graded ceramic/ceramic and metal/ceramic composites by electrophoretic deposition

Influence of Acidity on the Electrostatic Stability of Alumina Suspensions in Ethanol