• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.31-37
• /
• 2009

This paper presents one and two dimensional simulation results with discontinuous features (shocks) of capacitively coupled rf plasmas. The model consists of the first two and three moments of the Boltzmann equation for the ion and electron fluids respectively, coupled to Poisson's equation for the self-consistent electric field. The local field and drift-diffusion approximations are not employed, and as a result the charged species conservation equations are hyperbolic in nature. Hyperbolic equations may develop discontinuous solutions even if their initial conditions are smooth. Indeed, in this work, secondary electron emission is shown to produce transient electron shock waves. These shocks form at the boundary between the cathodic sheath (CS) and the quasi-neutral (QN) bulk region. In the CS, the electrons emitted from the electrode are accelerated to supersonic velocities due to the large electric field. On the other hand, in the QN the electric field is not significant and electrons have small directed velocities. Therefore, at the transition between these regions, the electron fluid decelerates from a supersonic to a subsonic velocity in the direction of flow and a jump in the electron velocity develops. The presented numerical results are consistent with both experimental observations and kinetic simulations.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.92-101
• /
• 2019

This study investigates how rivet head height affects the corrosion performance of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) to aluminum alloy self-piercing riveted joints. Specimens with two different head heights were prepared. A rivet head protruding out of the top CFRP laminate forms the proud head height while a rivet head penetrating into the top CFRP generates the flush head height. The salt spray test evaluated corrosion performance. The flush head joints suffered from severe corrosion on the rivet head. Thus, the tensile shear load of flush head joints was substantially reduced. Electrochemical corrosion tests investigated the corrosion mechanisms. The deeper indentation of the flush head height damaged the CFRP around the rivet head. The exposure of damaged fibers from the matrix increased the cathodic potential of local CFRP. The increased potential of damaged CFRP accelerated the galvanic corrosion of the rivet head. After the rivet head coating material corroded, a strong galvanic couple was formed between the rivet head base metal (boron steel) and the damaged CFRP, further accelerating the flush rivet head corrosion. The results of this study suggest that rivet head flushness should be avoided to enhance the corrosion performance of CFRP to aluminum alloy self-piercing riveted joints.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.308-319
• /
• 2018

Single step electrodeposition of $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ (CZTS) for solar cell applications was studied using an aqueous thiocyanate based electrolyte. The sodium thiocyanate complexing agent was found to decrease the difference in the deposition potential of the elements. X-ray diffraction analysis of the samples indicates the formation of kesterite phase CZTS. UV-vis studies reveal the band gap of the deposits to be in the range of 1.2 - 1.5 eV. The thickness of the deposit was found to decrease with increase in pH of the electrolyte. Nearly stoichiometric composition was obtained for CZTS films coated at pH 2 and 2.5. I-V characterization of the film with indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate in the presence and the absence of light source indicate that the resistance decrease significantly in the presence of light indicating suitability of the deposits for solar cell applications. Results of electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies reveal that the cathodic process for sulfur reduction is the slowest among all the elements.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.1345-1354
• /
• 2019

Clogging of sump strainers that filter the recirculation water in containment after a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) seriously impedes the continued cooling of nuclear reactor cores. In experiments examining the corrosion of aluminium alloy 6061, a common material in containment equipment, in borated solutions simulating the water chemistry of sump water after a LOCA, we found that Fe-bearing intermetallic particles, which were initially buried in the Al matrix, were progressively exposed as corrosion continued. Their cathodic nature $vis-{\grave{a}}-vis$ the Al matrix provoked continuous trenching around them until they were finally released into the test solution. Such particles released from Al alloy components in a reactor containment after a LOCA will be transported to the sump entrance with the recirculation flow and trapped by the debris bed that typically forms on the strainer surface, potentially aggravating strainer clogging. These Fe-bearing intermetallic particles, many of which had a rod or thin strip-like geometry, were identified to be mainly the cubic phase ${\alpha}_c-Al(Fe,Mn)Si$ with an average size of about $2.15{\mu}m$; 11.5 g of particles with a volume of about $3.2cm^3$ would be released with the dissolution of every 1 kg 6061 aluminium alloy.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.257-270
• /
• 2019

The inhibition performance of sodium gluconate (SG), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and their mixture (SG/CTAB) on the corrosion behavior of ${\alpha}$-brass in 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ solution has been investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy-Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICPS) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques. The results reveal that SG with 5ppm CTAB, noted SG/CTAB, acts as a good corrosion inhibitor and its inhibition efficiency reached 89% after 24 h immersion in sulfuric acid solution, but slightly decreased at higher temperatures. The polarization curves displayed that SG/CTAB acts as a cathodic-kind inhibitor. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies revealed that the addition of 5ppm CTAB to different concentrations of SG considerably increases the corrosion resistance of ${\alpha}$-brass. The SEM-EDS and ICPS analyses support the experimental results. Further, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to understand the adsorption profiles of SG/CTAB on Cu(111) and Zn(111) surfaces.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.148-158
• /
• 2019

The corrosion protection of AA2024 PPy coated samples doping with nanosized metal oxides, including $TiO_2$ and $CeO_2$ nanoparticles and $Nd_2O_3$ nanorods, during exposure to the solutions of 0.1 M $H_2SO_4$ and 3.5% NaCl was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization resistance (LPR) techniques. The nanorods of $Nd_2O_3$ were synthesized by cathodic pulse electrochemical deposition technique. The barrier properties of the different PPy coatings containing nanosized metal oxides immersed in $H_2SO_4$ solution were ranked as follows: $Nd_2O_3$ > $TiO_2$ > $CeO_2$. Therefore, the $Nd_2O_3$ coating sample provided the highest corrosion protection at any time of immersion up to 72 hours after immersing in $H_2SO_4$ solution. On the other hand, the $CeO_2$ coating sample displayed the best anticorrosive properties among the other coating samples after immersion in NaCl solution up to 28 days. This is due to the inhibition effect of cerium ions on aluminum alloys at near-neutral solutions.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.300-311
• /
• 2021

Background: So far there is no confidence in the basics of acupoint/meridian phenomena, specifically in spatial and temporal electrical manifestations in the skin. Methods: Using the skin electrodynamic introscopy, the skin areas of 32 × 64 mm² were monitored for spectral electrical impedance landscape with spatial resolution of 1 mm, at 2 kHz and 1 MHz frequencies. The detailed baseline and 2D test-induced 2 kHz-impedance phase dynamics and the 4-parameter time plots of dozens of individual points in the St32-34 regions were examined in a healthy participant and a patient with mild gastritis. Non-thermal stimuli were used: (1) (for the sick subject), microwaves and ultraviolet radiation applied alternately from opposite directions of the meridian; and (2) (for the healthy one) microwaves to St17, and cathodic/anodic stimulation of the outermost St45, alternately. Results: In both cases, the following phenomena have been observed: emergence of in-phase and/or antiphase coherent structures, exceeding the acupoint conditional size of 1 cm; collective movement along the meridian; reversible with a reversed stimulus; counter-directional dynamics of both whole structures and adjacent points; local abnormalities in sensitivity and dynamics of the 1 MHz and 2 kHz parameters indicating existence of different waveguide paths. Conclusion: It is assumed that these findings necessitate reconsideration of some basic methodological issues regarding neurogenic/acupuncture points as spatial and temporal phenomena; this requires development of an appropriate approach for identifying the acuzones patterns. These findings may be used for developing new approaches to personalized/controlled therapy/treatment.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.385-393
• /
• 2021

Reinforcement corrosion is the main cause of the durability failure of reinforced concrete (RC) structure. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model of macro-cell corrosion is established to reveal the corrosion mechanisms of steel reinforcement in RC structure. Modified Direct Iteration Method (MDIM) is employed to solve the system of partial differential equations for reinforcement corrosion. Through the sensitivity analysis of electrochemical parameters, it is found that the average corrosion current density is more sensitive to the change of cathodic Tafel slope and anodic equilibrium potential, compared with the other electrochemical parameters. Furthermore, both the anode-to-cathode (A/C) ratio and the anodic length have significant influences on the average corrosion current density, especially when A/C ratio is less than 0.5 and anodic length is less than 35 mm. More importantly, it is demonstrated that the corrosion rate of semi-circumferential corrosion is much larger than that of circumferential corrosion for the same A/C ratio value. The simulation results can give a unique insight into understanding the detailed electrochemical corrosion processes of steel reinforcement in RC structure for application in service life prediction of RC structures in actual civil engineer.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.221-229
• /
• 2022

To understand effects of cooling rates of coating layer on microstructures and corrosion behaviors of hot-dip alloy coated steel sheets (Zn-5%Al-2%Mg) in a neutral aqueous condition with chloride ion, a range of experimental and analytical methods were used in this study. Results showed that a faster cooling rate during solidification decreased the fraction of primary Zn, and increased the fraction of Zn-Al phase. In addition, interlamellar spacing became refined under a faster cooling rate. These modifications of the coating structure had higher open circuit potentials (OCP) with smaller anodic and cathodic current densities in the electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization. Surface analyses after a salt spray test showed that the increase in the Zn-Al phase in the coating formed under a faster cooling rate might have contributed to the formation of simonkolleite (Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·H₂O) and hydrotalcite (ZnAl₂(OH)₆Cl₂·H₂O) with a protective nature on the corroded outer surface, thus delaying the formation of red rust.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2022

Liquid Bi pool is a candidate electrode for an electrometallurgical process in the molten LiCl-KCl eutectic to treat the spent nuclear fuels from nuclear power plants. The electrochemical behavior of Bi³⁺ ions and the electrode reaction on liquid Bi pool were investigated with the cyclic voltammetry in an environment with or without BiCl₃ in the molten LiCl-KCl eutectic. Experimental results showed that two redox reactions of Bi³⁺ on inert W electrode and the shift of cathodic peak potentials of Li⁺ and Bi³⁺ on liquid Bi pool electrode in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic. It is confirmed that the redox reaction of lithium with respect to the liquid Bi pool electrode would occur in a wide range of potentials in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic. The obtained data will be used to design the electrometallurgical process for treating actinide and lanthanide from the spent nuclear fuels and to understand the electrochemical reactions of actinide and lanthanide at liquid Bi pool electrode in the molten LiCl-KCl eutectic.