Chuanjun Huang

Enhanced Negative Thermal Expansion in La1–xPrxFe10.7Co0.8Si1.5 Compounds by Doping the Magnetic Rare-Earth Element Praseodymium

Experiments have been performed to enhance negative thermal expansion (NTE) in the La(Fe,Co,Si)13-based compounds by optimizing the chemical composition, i.e., proper substitution of La by magnetic element Pr. It is found that increasing the absolute value of the average coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) in the NTE temperature region (200-300 K) attributes to enhancement of the spontaneous magnetization and its growth rate with increasing Pr content. Typically, the average CTE of La(1-x)Pr(x)Fe10.7Co0.8Si1.5 with x = 0.5 reaches as large as -38.5 × 10(-6) K(-1) between 200 and 300 K (ΔT = 100 K), which is 18.5% larger than that of x = 0. The present results highlight the potential applications of La(Fe,Co,Si)13-based compounds with a larger NTE coefficient.

Broad negative thermal expansion operation-temperature window in antiperovskite manganese nitride with small crystallites

Using spark plasma sintering (SPS), Mn3Cu0.6Ge0.4N crystallites have been fabricated with different crystallite sizes, and their magnetic properties and thermal behaviors were systemically investigated. With decreasing crystallite size, the magnetic transition becomes increasingly slow, accompanied by broadening of the negative thermal expansion (NTE) operation-temperature window. The NTE operation-temperature window for the 12-nm crystallite sample reaches at 140 K, which is about 75% larger than that of the 74-nm crystallite sample. The magnetic properties and NTE operation-temperature window can be tuned by varying the crystallite size. This discovery will promote an even wider range of practical applications in precision devices.

Testing of the Ceramic Insulation Break for Fusion Device

Large magnet system is an essential component of most current or planned fusion devices. Axial insulation breaks are required in order to electrically isolate the cryogenic distribution system from the potential high voltage of the magnet system and bus bars. The epoxy resin based insulation break could be the weak link in magnet design, due to insulation sensitivity to high irradiation doses. The Al2O3 ceramic material instead of epoxy based material was used to manufacture the insulation break. Kovar alloy which has a similar mean coefficient of thermal expansion with Al2O3 ceramic in the temperature range of 300-1073 K was used as two ends of the insulation breaks. The ceramic tubes and Kovar alloy tubes were vacuum brazed together using silver-based filler at 1073 K. The helium tightness, the insulation resistances and dielectric breakdown were checked at room temperature and LN2 temperature. Then 2 kN traction and compression were tested at room temperature and LN2 temperature. The maximum tensile force of 8.62 kN and 8.18 kN were measured at room temperature and LN2 temperature, respectively. The three point bending test was carried out. The test results of 4.5 kN and 3.6 kN were measured at room temperature and LN2 temperature, respectively. The 50 thermal shock cycles were performed from 77 K to 300 K to ensure that the ceramic break could operate under rapid temperature change.

Broad Negative Thermal Expansion Operation-Temperature Window Achieved by Adjusting Fe–Fe Magnetic Exchange Coupling in La(Fe,Si)13 Compounds

Cubic La(Fe,Si)13-based compounds have been recently developed as promising negative thermal expansion(NTE) materials, but the narrow NTE operation-temperature window(∼110 K) restricts their actual applications. In this work, we demonstrate that the NTE operation-temperature window of LaFe(13-x)Si(x) can be significantly broadened by adjusting Fe-Fe magnetic exchange coupling as x ranges from 2.8 to 3.1. In particular, the NTE operation-temperature window of LaFe10.1Si2.9 is extended to 220 K. More attractively, the coefficients of thermal expansion of LaFe10.0Si3.0 and LaFe9.9Si3.1 are homogeneous in the NTE operation-temperature range of about 200 K, which is much valuable for the stability of fabricating devices. The further experimental characterizations combined with first-principles studies reveal that the tetragonal phase is gradually introduced into the cubic phase as the Si content increases, hence modifies the Fe-Fe interatomic distance. The reduction of the overall Fe-Fe magnetic exchange interactions contributes to the broadness of NTE operation-temperature window for LaFe(13-x)Si(x).

Preparation and Property Study of Graphene Oxide Reinforced Epoxy Resin Insulation Nanocomposites with High Heat Conductivity

In this paper, graphene oxide reinforced epoxy resin nanocomposites were successfully prepared. Compared with unmodified epoxy resin, the heat conductivity of the graphene oxide reinforced epoxy resin nanocomposites had been improved while keeping the insulation performance. The tensile strength was investigated at both room temperature (300 K) and liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K). And the fracture surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that the materials had excellent mechanical properties, which could be advantages for the applications as insulating layer in low temperature superconducting magnets.

Scattering mechanical performances for brittle bulk metallic glasses

Scattering mechanical performances of brittle La- and Mg-based BMGs are found in the present study. Upon dynamic loading, there exist largely scattered fracture strengths even if the strain rates are under the same order, and the BMG systems are the same. The negative strain rate dependence for La- and Mg-based BMGs is obtained, i.e., a decreased fracture strength is dominating from quasi-static to dynamic compression. At cryogenic temperatures, distinguishingly low fracture strengths are available for these two brittle BMGs, and decreased tolerance to accommodate strains makes BMGs more and more brittle. It is concluded that the scattering mechanical performances of brittle BMGs should be carefully evaluated before actual applications.

Mechanical Characterizations of Structural Materials for Large Superconducting Magnets at Low Temperatures

In the past decades, China was involved in several large superconducting magnet tasks. These magnets require cryogenic structural materials as reinforcement. Within this context, mechanical characterization of these materials at cryogenic temperature obtained with specimens from readily available components is a prerequisite for a safe engineering design. In China, almost all cryogenic mechanical measurements of structural materials dealing with large superconducting magnets have been conducted at the Center of Cryogenic Materials and Applied Superconductivity, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This paper shows the recent mechanical measurement results with toroidal-field coils, poloidal-field coils, correction coils, feeders, magnet supports, a full-size conductor, and insulation materials for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor task.

Stress-induced martensitic transformation during tensile test of full-size TF conductor jacket tube at 4.2 K

The toroidal-field (TF) conductor jacket of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is made of modified 316LN stainless steel, which is influenced by heat treatment at approximately 650 °C for 200 h to produce Nb3Sn superconducting materials at the final stage. Due to the high electromagnetic forces arising during magnet operation, higher mechanical properties of the jacket materials at cryogenic temperatures are required. In our work, mechanical properties of the full-size TF conductor jacket tube were investigated, which satisfied the ITER requirements. Stress-induced martensitic transformation mechanism during tensile test of the conductor jacket material at 4.2 K was characterized by means of in-situ temperature dependent XRD, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tensile behavior related to the amount of stress-induced phase transformation at cryogenic temperature was also discussed.The toroidal-field (TF) conductor jacket of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is made of modified 316LN stainless steel, which is influenced by heat treatment at approximately 650 °C for 200 h to produce Nb3Sn superconducting materials at the final stage. Due to the high electromagnetic forces arising during magnet operation, higher mechanical properties of the jacket materials at cryogenic temperatures are required. In our work, mechanical properties of the full-size TF conductor jacket tube were investigated, which satisfied the ITER requirements. Stress-induced martensitic transformation mechanism during tensile test of the conductor jacket material at 4.2 K was characterized by means of in-situ temperature dependent XRD, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tensile behavior related to the amount of stress-induced phase transformation at cryogenic temperature was also discussed.

Rheological behavior and cryogenic properties of cyanate ester/epoxy insulation material for fusion superconducting magnet

In a Tokamak fusion reactor device like ITER, insulation materials for superconducting magnets are usually fabricated by a vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI) process. Thus these insulation materials must exhibit low viscosity, long working life as well as good radiation resistance. Previous studies have indicated that cyanate ester (CE) blended with epoxy has an excellent resistance against neutron irradiation which is expected to be a candidate insulation material for a fusion magnet. In this work, the rheological behavior of a CE/epoxy (CE/EP) blend containing 40% CE was investigated with non-isothermal and isothermal viscosity experiments. Furthermore, the cryogenic mechanical and electrical properties of the composite were evaluated in terms of interlaminar shear strength and electrical breakdown strength. The results showed that CE/epoxy blend had a very low viscosity and an exceptionally long processing life of about 4 days at 60 °C.

Properties of radiation stable insulation composites for fusion magnet

High field superconducting magnets made of Nb3Al will be a suitable candidate for future fusion device which can provide magnetic field over 15T without critical current degradation caused by strain. The higher magnetic field and the larger current will produce a huge electromagnetic force. Therefore, it is necessary to develop high strength cryogenic structural materials and electrical insulation materials with excellent performance. On the other hand, superconducting magnets in fusion devices will experience significant nuclear radiation exposure during service. While typical structural materials like stainless steel and titanium have proven their ability to withstand these conditions, electrical insulation materials used in these coils have not fared as well. In fact, recent investigations have shown that electrical insulation breakdown is a limiting factor in the performance of high field magnets. The insulation materials used in the high field fusion magnets should be characterized by excellent mechanical properties, high radiation resistivity and good thermal conductivity. To meet these objectives, we designed various insulation materials based on epoxy resins and cyanate ester resins and investigated their processing characteristic and mechanical properties before and after irradiation at low temperature. In this paper, the recent progress of the radiation stable insulation composites for high field fusion magnet is presented. The materials have been irradiated by 60Co ?-ray irradiation in air at ambient temperature with a dose rate of 300 Gy/min. The total doses of 1 MGy, 5 MGy and 10 MGy were selected to the test specimens.