Metal Infiltration Research Articles

Hazardous Effects of Battery Waste and Role of the Battery Waste Management Rule 2022 in Enhancing Energy Efficiency

Replacing batteries in present world is challenging because they are extensively utilised in every facet of human existence. These batteries contain a variety of toxic heavy metals, including as cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc, all of which pose risks to human health and the environment. Improperly disposing of used batteries in landfills leads to the infiltration of toxic heavy metals and other dangerous compounds into the soil and water over time. India’s long-term development has significant challenges in both reducing CO2 emissions and meeting the energy demands of its large population. This has significantly bolstered the electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy industries. Battery-based energy storage systems can enhance the management of operational and energy evacuation challenges associated with renewable energy. Consequently, the effective disposal of battery waste is more crucial than battery production. However, it is neglected often, specially in developing and impoverished nations. Three established methods exist for preventing and managing the issues arising from the inappropriate disposal of used batteries. The three R’s are: decrease, replenish, and reuse. This article initially analyses the health and environmental consequences of battery waste, and subsequently highlights the potential of new regulations on battery waste management to effectively handle huge amounts of battery waste and encourage energy conservation.

A numerical study on metallic melt infiltration in porous media and the effect of solidification

The melt infiltration in porous debris is of importance to severe accident prediction and mitigation in nuclear power plants (NPPs), but its mechanism remains elusive. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is proposed to simulate the evolution of melt infiltration within porous media, incorporating both solidification and melting processes. The CFD model is validated against the experiment (REMCOD facility) and Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) simulation results. Building upon this validated model, the influence of the melt superheat, the initial particle temperature, and its surface wettability on melt infiltration dynamics are mainly analyzed. It is found that increased initial melt superheat enhances melt infiltration length and rate; higher initial particle temperatures promote deeper and faster infiltration, while lower temperatures may result in solidification that blocks further infiltration. Additionally, the wettable particulate bed can enhance melt relocation and heat transfer, but it also accelerates the solidification of the melt, which complicates the infiltration process. Furthermore, phase changes could intensify melt flow instability. This work may expand our understanding of melt infiltration dynamics and pave the way to severe accident modeling in NPPs.

Demineralized cancellous bone scaffolds as reinforcement for degradable magnesium biocomposite

AbstractThis study investigates demineralized bone matrix (DBM) combined with magnesium (Mg) to create degradable composite materials. Two types of DBM were utilized: carbon-coated (H.A.) and non-carbon-coated (HA-HT). An advanced liquid metal infiltration method prevented the structural collapse of the scaffold due to capillary forces. Both composites exhibited an interphase layer primarily composed of MgO, differing in thickness by 50%, attributed to the reaction between H.A. and Mg. The Mg/H.A. composite demonstrated a compressive yield strength 1.7 times higher than Mg/HA-HT, resembling Mg’s mechanical behavior but with a lower metal phase fraction than other composites. Compared to pure Mg, the composites generated less hydrogen (45–54 ml cm−2), reducing the corrosion rate (~ 0.1181 mm year−1) under simulated conditions (90 ml cm−2 and 4.2 mm year−1 for Mg). A localized phenomenon was identified mainly at the interphase of both composites but specifically in the Mg/H.A., where the scaffold structure was kept over extended exposure periods. These materials hold promise for temporary bone fixation applications. Graphical abstract

Scalable mesoporous biochars from bagasse waste for Cu (II) removal: Process optimisation, kinetics and techno-economic analysis

As the world faces the brink of climatological disaster, it is crucial to utilize all available resources to facilitate environmental remediation, especially by accommodating waste streams. Lignocellulosic waste residues can be transformed into mesoporous biochar structures with substantial pore capacity. While biochars are considered a method of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), they are in fact an environmental double-edged sword that can be used to extract metal ions from water bodies. Biochars possess high chemical affinities through chemisorption pathways that are tuneable to specific pH conditions. This work demonstrates how biochars can be enhanced to maximise their surface area and porosity for the removal of Cu (II) in solution. It was found that bagasse derived mesoporous biochars operate preferentially at high pH (basic conditions), with the 1.18 mKOH/mSCB material reaching 97.85% Cu (II) removal in 5 min. This result is in stark contrast with the majority of biochar adsorbents that are only effective at low pH (acidic conditions). As a result, the biochars produced in this work can be directly applied to ancestral landfill sites and carbonate-rich mine waters which are highly basic by nature, preventing further metal infiltration and reverse sullied water supplies. Furthermore, to assess the value in the use of biochars produced and applied in this way, a techno-economic assessment was carried out to determine the true cost of biochar synthesis, with possible routes for revenue post-Cu being removed from the biochar.

Engineering Three-Dimensional Morphologies in a Block Copolymer by Reversible Metal Infiltration

Engineering Three-Dimensional Morphologies in a Block Copolymer by Reversible Metal Infiltration

Microstructure and properties of in situ TiCP/Mn18Cr2 architecture composites

In situ TiC ceramic particle-reinforced steel matrix composites, typically produced via liquid metal infiltration of unstructured preforms, often demonstrate issues with composite areas being prone to fracture. To address this problem, particles with an average diameter of 3 mm were constructed and used to fabricate preforms. Using the in situ self-generation method, the composites were then synthesised with liquid Mn18Cr2. To control the degree of in situ spontaneous reaction, moderator alloy powders at concentrations of 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt.% were utilised. The results reveal that the TiC particle size in the composites gradually decreases as the moderator concentration in the preform increases, reducing from 1.31 to 0.92 μm. The microhardness and elastic modulus at the composite interfaces are intermediate between those of the TiC ceramic particles and the high manganese steel matrix. The inclusion of millimetre-scale architecture enhances the tensile strength of the composites, with tensile strength gradually increasing as the moderator content decreases. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of how moderator content influences the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiC-reinforced Mn18Cr2 composites, providing valuable insights for the development of high-performance structural materials.

Ceramic/metal composites fabricated via 3D printing and ultrasonic-assisted infiltration for high specific strength and energy absorption

To address the strength-toughness dilemma, ceramic/metal interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs), fabricated through metal infiltration into ceramic perform, have been investigated. However, infiltrating metal into porous ceramic scaffold with high volume fraction remains a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a novel method to fabricate highly dense Al2O3/AlSi10Mg (Al) interpenetrating phase composites through ultrasonic-assisted pressureless infiltration into 3D printed ceramic scaffolds. Experimental results indicate that the as-fabricated Al2O3/Al IPCs exhibit excellent quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties. Specifically, the materials can achieve high specific compressive strengths of 148.6 ± 5.2 MPa/(g/cm3) under quasi-static compression and 228.6 ± 4.5 MPa/(g/cm3) under dynamic compression while also exhibiting high specific energy absorption of 33.6 ± 0.9 J/g under quasi-static compression and 37.7 ± 1.1 J/g under dynamic compression. The specific compressive strength and specific energy absorption of the as-fabricated Al2O3/Al IPCs outperform those of the literature-reported ceramic/metal IPCs. This work provides an innovative approach to fabricate strong and tough ceramic composites.

The influence of anodization on laser transmission welding between high borosilicate glass and TC4 titanium alloy

This study investigates the influence of the thickness of the oxide film formed on the surface of TC4 titanium alloy after anodization on the laser transmission welding between the titanium alloy and high borosilicate glass. The effects of oxidation time on the morphology and thickness of the oxide film were examined, and the elemental and phase composition of the oxide film were characterized. The differences in welding strength, weld morphology, and fracture surface between the titanium alloy before and after oxidation treatment and high borosilicate glass welding were compared, and analyzed the welding seam formation mechanism. Within our research scope, the results indicate that with an increase in oxide film thickness, the surface roughness gradually increases and the internal voids gradually increase, resulting in a decrease trend in the bonding strength of the welded joints with the increase in oxide film thickness. The interpenetrating structure formed by the mutual infiltration of glass and metal in the molten pool is identified as the main reason for their connection.

Molecular dynamics study of high temperature Ag-Cu-Sn liquid metal infiltration between Ag-Cu alloys：Influences of adsorption and dissolution

Infiltration is the basic process underlying solder connections between alloys. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation was used to systematically investigate the infiltration process of Ag-Cu-Sn liquid metal between multi-formulations Ag-Cu alloys, along with the kinetic factors of the solid/liquid interface formation process. It was found that the infiltration velocity on the surface of the Cu-rich alloys is higher than that on the Ag-rich alloy surface. The difference in velocities originates from both adsorption and dissolution. The competitive interplay between these two factors directly impacts the bonding between solid and liquid atoms, consequently changing the ability of the interface to constrain the movement of liquid atoms. Analysis based on MKT suggests that infiltration along the three-phase line is primarily governed by molecular friction, whereas on the Ag90Cu10 surface, it is driven by the growth of adsorbed products. Additionally, the influence of solid/liquid interactions on wettability was also discussed.

An experimental study on the impact of particle surface wettability on melt infiltration in particulate beds

Melt infiltration into porous media is an intriguing phenomenon that holds immense significance across various sciences and technologies. In this work, the problem of metallic melt infiltration in particulate beds is investigated for understanding and prediction of severe accident progression associated with a molten pool penetrating through an underlying debris bed which may form in the reactor core or in the lower head of a light water reactor.The present study aims to quantify the effect of particle surface’s wettability on melt infiltration kinetics. For this purpose, two categories of experiment are conceived and carried out to measure the wettability of different material surfaces by melt and to characterize melt infiltration kinetics in one-dimensional particulate beds, respectively. The melt material is tin–bismuth eutectic alloy with a melting point of 139 °C. Copper (Cu), stainless steel (SS), Tin (Sn) and tin-coated stainless steel (Sn-coated SS) are chosen as materials of substrates and particles in wettability measurement and melt infiltration study. The particulate beds, packed with 1.5 mm spheres, are preheated to 200 °C before the melt infiltration begins.The experimental data of wettability measurement shows that the contact angles of liquid Sn-Bi eutectic on the above-mentioned material surfaces range from 79° to 135°. The results of melt infiltration tests confirm the significant effect of wettability on melt penetration kinetics. The capillary force plays a significant role in the initial infiltration of particulate beds. Specifically, a wettable particulate bed enhances the initial melt infiltration, whereas non-wettable beds hinder it.

Quasi-static compressive fracture behavior of three-period minimum surface Al2O3 / Al composites fabricated by stereolithography

Extensive research has been conducted on the structures and preparation methods of ceramic/metal composites to achieve materials with superior strength and toughness. Among these, the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure stands out due to its remarkable advantages. In this study, we employed SLA additive manufacturing to fabricate a Gyroid-structured ceramic skeleton, and utilized metal infiltration to prepare interpenetrating Al2O3/Al composites. A comparison was made between the compressive properties of Al2O3/Al interpenetrating composites with Gyroid curved surface structure and those with honeycomb structure. The experimental outcomes indicate that compressive failure in both structural composites primarily occurs at the bond interface between the ceramic framework and the metal. These composites exhibit brittle fracture and experience shear failure. Furthermore, the compressive failure mechanism involves a mixed fracture composed of cleavage and micropore polymerization fractures. Gyroid curved structural composites exhibit lower local stress concentration due to their smooth and regular topology, rendering them with higher strength and ductility compared to honeycomb structural composites. The ultimate compressive strength of the Gyroid curved composite is 264 MPa, representing a 3.8-fold increase over the honeycomb structure.

LID Approach to Railway Track Drainage: Determination of Heavy Metal Content in the Embankment of Railway

Along with the increase in global pollution, every part of the urban system, including facilities for the transport of people and goods, is becoming increasingly interesting for the study. The first serious research into the impact of railway traffic on the environment appeared after the year 2000. So far, there have been few studies, the main shortcoming of which is a lack of understanding about pollutant migration. With this in mind, in this paper, an investigation and control of the railway track with regard to the presence, content and migration paths of heavy metals was provided. For the research purposes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and optical emission spectrometry with induced coupled plasma were used. It was found that the maximum allowable values were exceeded for cadmium, cobalt, copper, zinc, nickel, vanadium, barium, chromium and iron. In the course of determining the amount of these elements in the railway track, there was also evidence of significant metal infiltration into the lower layers. This indicated the ability of heavy metals to migrate, even through mechanically compacted soil. Detailed knowledge of these issues is of huge importance, which enables the selection of adequate techniques to prevent the migration of heavy metals into the lower layers of the ground and the surrounding soil, among which the elements of Low Impact Development technology stand out in recent years, which could find a very wide and effective application in railway engineering.

Potential Applications of Metal‐Doped Nanomaterials for Enhancing Solid‐State Hydrogen Storage

AbstractHydrogen energy is the primary replacement for fossil fuels in the future because of its advantages in terms of efficiency, cost‐effectiveness, and environmental friendliness. The fundamental issue with hydrogen, however, arises from its exceedingly low volumetric density; thus, developing efficient storage methods is critical to achieving a sustainable hydrogen economy. Hydrogen storage has demonstrated tremendous potential as a possible alternative for effective large‐scale storage. Due to their low cost, and high volumetric and gravimetric capacities, metal hydride‐based storage is considered the most prospective solid‐state storage material. Their low storage capacity nevertheless restricts their application effectively. Hence, the need to enhance the storage capacity by doping active metals becomes an interesting study area. With considerable success, metals, particularly transition metals, have been used to modify hydrides to improve their storage capacities. Owing to their strong and superior performance, active metals have demonstrated tremendous potential in increasing the performance of storage materials. This review critically examined recent developments in enhancing hydrogen storage characteristics through the incorporation of active metals. The preparation techniques for metal infiltration through different techniques, such as impregnation, ball/mechanical milling, and reflux were reported. The review describes significant advances in hydrogen storage characteristics due to metal doping and offers perspective recommendations for future research.

Additive Manufacturing of TiC/Steel Composites Using Electron Beam Melting and In Situ Infiltration

Cemented carbides containing titanium carbide (TiC), characterized by low specific weight, superior hardness, and excellent high‐temperature resistance, are widely used as wear‐resistant cutting tools and brake discs. Instead of using conventional powder metallurgical approaches, composites comprising TiC and stainless steel are fabricated in this study by means of an innovative method combining electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF‐EB) and in situ liquid metal infiltration. For PBF‐EB, a pure TiC powder as feedstock and a stainless steel plate as substrate are used, respectively. Owing to the high processing temperature in the hatching area, the TiC particles are inhomogeneously sintered. Simultaneously, an in situ infiltration of liquid steel into the pores between TiC particles takes place during PBF‐EB, forming a dense and crack‐free composite material containing ≈68% TiC. The electrical properties of the raw TiC powder are investigated at different temperatures to optimize the process parameters ensuring high process stability during PBF‐EB. The microstructure and mechanical properties (compression strength, hardness, and fracture toughness) of the PBF‐EB‐produced TiC/steel composite are analyzed.

Volume compensating materials after vapor phase infiltration: effect of different butyl isomers of polymer side-chains on high process temperature durability

Vapor phase infiltration is a facile process that adds metallic features to organic polymer patterns. Generally, volume expansion in typical polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is observed after metal infiltration, which limits the application of this technique in nanofabrication processes. In this study, poly(sec-butyl methacrylate) P(sBuMA) and poly(iso-butyl methacrylate) P(iBuMA) with leaving groups were selected as alternatives for PMMA and poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) P(tBuMA), and their aluminum (Al) infiltration behaviors were investigated. Notably, Al species infiltrated into P(sBuMA) and P(iBuMA) at 200 °C, whereas no Al infiltration was observed at 100 °C. Volume shrinkage was observed for both polymers after infiltration. This shows that the volume change in the base material after metal infiltration can be minimized by combining a conventional volume-expanding polymer, such as PMMA, with volume-shrinking polymers with high process temperature durability.

Cryo-Electron Microscopy Reveals Na Infiltration into Separator Pore Free-Volume as a Degradation Mechanism in Na Anode:Liquid Electrolyte Electrochemical Cells.

Batteries utilizing a sodium (Na) metal anode with a liquid electrolyte are promising for affordable large-scale energy storage. However, a deep understanding of the intrinsic degradation mechanisms is limited by challenges in accessing the buried interfaces. Here, cryogenic electron microscopyof intact electrode:separator:electrode stacks is performed and degradation and failure of symmetric Na||Na coin cells occurs through the infiltration of Na metal through thepores of the separator rather than by mechanical puncturing by dendrites is revealed. It is shown the interior structure of the cell (electrode:separator:electrode) must be preserved anddeconstructing the cell into different layers for characterization results in artifacts. In intact cell stacks, minimal liquid is found between the electrodes and separator, leading to intimate electrode:separator interfaces. After electrochemical cycling, Na infiltrates into the pore free-volume, growing through the separator to create electrical shorts and degradation. The Na infiltration occurs at interfacial regions devoid of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), revealing SEI plays an important role in preventing Na from growing into the separator by being a physical barrier that the plated Na cannot penetrate. These results shed new light on the fundamental failure mechanisms in Na batteries and demonstrate the importance of preserving the cell structure and buried interfaces.

Effects of Coal Gasification Slag on the Migration of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in Soil

In recent years, coal gasification slag has been widely used as an adsorbent in many countries worldwide. To better understand remediation of soil heavy metal pollution by coal gasification slag, it is necessary to examine and analyze the influence mechanism of the adsorption characteristics of coal gasification slag on the migration of heavy metal ions in the soil. In this study, we used a soil water movement model and convection-dispersion equation and constructed a model of heavy metal migration after soil improvement by coal gasification slag; then, we evaluated and predicted the influence of heavy metal infiltration with liquid on groundwater after soil improvement. Combined with the soil column experiment, HYDRUS-1D software was used to predict the migration behavior of heavy metals in the soil. The results showed that the dispersion of the sample with coal gasification slag was smaller than that of the original soil sample, and the permeability coefficient of the soil was reduced by 59.34%; after adding coal gasification slag, the adsorption rates of Cd2+ and Pb2+ on the soil samples were higher than 95% and 99% respectively. The constructed heavy metal migration model was fitted well and predicted the migration behavior of heavy metals in the soil satisfactorily. The addition of coal gasification slag can effectively prevent the infiltration of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in the soil and can mitigate groundwater pollution. Therefore, using the adsorption characteristics of coal gasification slag to study the migration behavior of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in soil has important practical significance for soil adsorption and provides a new idea for the comprehensive utilization of coal gasification slag.

3D observations of room temperature capillary infiltration mechanism in SiC compacts

The melt infiltration of a liquid metal is a successful method for densifying metal and ceramic matrix composites (CMC). The reduction of residual porosity of silicon carbide composites by infiltration of molten silicon into the matrix allows to reach interesting mechanical properties. However, fluid progression within the pore network of the granular matrix is a complex phenomenon, driven by physical and thermomechanical mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. This publication focuses on the capillary impregnation at room temperature and highlights important parameters related to the physical aspect of the process. Two different model fluids (n-hexadecane and exo-dicyclopentadiene) were used to reproduce the behaviour of molten silicon alloy. During the infiltration, the monitoring of the infiltrated liquid weight, along with the image acquisition, was used to compare the infiltration difference between several types of samples. An innovative way to interrupt and fix liquid inside samples, based on rapid polymerization, was investigated during capillary rise experiments. The correlation between 2D observations and 3D volumes obtained by tomography outlines the existence of two different flow fronts, the surface flow front (SFF) which often have a flat shape, and a second inside the sample, the volume flow front (VFF), which shows a paraboloid shape.

Investigation on the Attainment of High-Density 316L Stainless Steel with Selective Laser Sintering.

Due to the low density of the green part produced by selective laser sintering (SLS), previous reports mainly improve the sample's density through the infiltration of low-melting metals or using isostatic pressing technology. In this study, the feasibility of preparing high-density 316L stainless steel using 316L and epoxy resin E-12 as raw materials for SLS combined with debinding and sintering was investigated. The results indicated that in an argon atmosphere, high carbon and oxygen contents, along with the uneven distribution of oxygen, led to the formation of impurity phases such as metal oxides, including Cr2O3 and FeO, preventing the effective densification of the sintered samples. Hydrogen-sintered samples can achieve a high relative density exceeding 98% without losing their original design shape. This can be attributed to hydrogen's strong reducibility (effectively reducing the carbon and oxygen contents in the samples, improving their distribution uniformity, and eliminating impurity phases) and hydrogen's higher thermal conductivity (about 10 times that of argon, reducing temperature gradients in the sintered samples and promoting better sintering). The microstructure of the hydrogen-sintered samples consisted of equiaxed austenite and ferrite phases. The samples exhibited the highest values of tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation at 1440 °C, reaching 513.5 MPa, 187.4 MPa, and 76.1%, respectively.

Investigation of source and infiltration of toxic metals in indoor PM2.5 using Pb isotopes during a season of high pollution in an urban area.

Lead (Pb) isotope ratio has been applied in source investigation for particulate matter in size < 2.5μm. However, arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) are carcinogenic to human and their isotope analysis is difficult. This study investigated whether the Pb isotope ratio was a useful indicator in identifying the sources of As and Cd indoors and investigating its influencing factors. This study also calculated the infiltration factor (Finf) for metals to assess the influences of indoor- and outdoor-generated metals to indoor air. The As and Cd concentrations in indoor air were 0.87 ± 0.69 and 0.19 ± 0.15ng/m3, respectively; the corresponding values for outdoor air were 1.44 ± 0.80 and 0.33 ± 0.19ng/m3. The Finf of As and Cd were 0.60 ± 0.37 and 0.58 ± 0.39, and outdoor was a predominant contributor to indoor As and Cd. The Pb isotopes ratio indicated that traffic-related emission was a major contributor to Pb. The Pb concentration was associated with those of As and Cd in indoor or outdoor air, as was the 208Pb/207Pb ratio in outdoor air. Significant correlations between indoor 208Pb/207Pb values and As and Cd concentrations in indoor air were found only in study houses with air change rate > 1.5h-1. These findings suggested that traffic-related emission was identified as a major source of As and Cr. The 208Pb/207Pb is a useful indicator in investigating the source of As and Cd; however, the air change rate influences the applicability of this approach on source identification.