Browse Topic: Conductivity
This study prepares high-performance PI/VIP composite thermal insulation materials for buildings by integrating polyimide (PI) composite membranes and vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), and uses EnergyPlus to explore their impacts on building energy conservation, operating costs, and carbon emissions under different climates. Experimental results show the materials have low thermal conductivity, long service life, and excellent thermal insulation and flame-retardant properties due to their internal vacuum structure inhibiting heat transfer. Simulations in Jinan (tropical monsoon), Heilongjiang (cold temperate), and Shenzhen (subtropical humid) climates indicate that compared with traditional XPS and rock wool boards, buildings using PI/VIP composites achieve 21.3%, 34.7%, and 18.9% higher annual energy-saving efficiency respectively, with 27%-41% lower carbon emissions; the most significant effects in Heilongjiang highlight the material’s great promotion potential in severe cold areas.
This research investigates the fabrication and evaluation of Delrin (polyoxymethylene, POM) composites reinforcing 5-20 wt.% chopped ramie fiber (RF). The polymer composites were fabricated via the injection moulding technique. Glass transition temperature (Tg), thermal conductivity, Vicat softening temperature (VST), heat deflection temperature (HDT), melt flow index (MFI), and coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) were the various thermal characteristics of the sustainable composites that were systematically evaluated as per the ASTM standards. The addition of RF drastically altered the Delrin matrix's performance. Among the formulations, the composite with 15 wt.% RF had the best combination of properties: higher VST and HDT values, which provide greater dimensional stability at high temperatures; lower CLTE, resulting in less thermal expansion; comparatively better thermal conductivity; and improved heat dissipation. Eventually, there was a moderate drop in the MFI, indicating more rigid polymer chains that restrict the flowability of the composite, thereby increasing its heat-withstanding capabilities. DSC analysis revealed a slight upward shift in Tg and increased crystallinity, suggesting restricted polymer chain mobility and enhanced load transfer at 20 wt.% RF loadings, agglomeration effects, and weaker interfacial bonding with the matrix led to deterioration in properties. Aircraft cabin components like interior panels, ducting supports, and lightweight non-structural fittings requires dimensional stability, thermal resistance, and mechanical reliability under fluctuating flight conditions.
The demand for lightweight, high-efficiency components in electric vehicles (EVs) highlights the critical need for reliable Al-Cu joints with superior electrical and thermal conductivity. While diffusion bonding has emerged as a promising approach, interfacial impurities and voids often degrade joint quality and conductivity. Conventional manual polishing was initially employed to prepare Cu and Al surfaces; however, this method proved insufficient in consistently removing oxides and contaminants, leading to non-uniform bonding. In addition, the larger surface area of the samples made traditional polishing impractical, further motivating the use of electropolishing. To overcome these limitations, we introduce electropolishing pretreatment to achieve cleaner, void-free interfaces. Electropolishing effectively dissolves surface asperities and contaminants, enabling intimate atomic contact during bonding and minimizing the formation of brittle intermetallic phases. A systematic investigation of bonding parameters was conducted using a custom-designed graphite clamping system. Microstructural analyses reveal that advanced polishing plays a pivotal role in producing uniform, impurity-free interfaces, resulting in reduced intermetallic thickness, improved bonding strength, and enhanced current-carrying capability. This study demonstrates the clear advantages of electropolishing over conventional polishing and establishes a scalable pathway to manufacture high-performance conductive joints for next-generation EV motor and power distribution systems.
In the design of Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) structures, including battery trays, module side plates, and end plates, there are multiple conflating factors, including: Mechanical requirements necessitating the use of electrically conductive materials (steel and aluminum); proximity between battery module structure and battery cells, necessitating the use of electrical isolation coatings; and, module and pack designs that retain cells via the use of Structural Adhesive Material (SAM). Inherently, with this design approach, organic coatings are placed in a new and perilous position. In a sense, the coating becomes a supplement to an adhesive. As Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) virtual analysis tools become more sophisticated, there is increasing reliance on these tools to predict the occurrence of structural failures in various load cases. Factors in test method, paint pretreatment, and topcoat affecting adhesion of organic coatings in structural adhesive joints are discussed, including: Adhesive sample preparation; adhesive selection, coating film pretreatment; age of pretreatment bath; acid cleaning; substrate material type (steel vs. aluminum); substrate product form effects within aluminum, and coating thickness. This information is useful for organic coating process development on metallic substrates. It is especially useful for material constructions requiring paint in contact with structural adhesives, as in these joints, paint adhesion is often a limiting factor on the performance of the structural adhesive. The characterization and optimization of this interface is especially important for EV battery modules & packs.
Battery modules consist of battery cells electrically joined at the terminals by conductive busbars. Laser welds are the most consistent and controllable process to create these connections on a large scale due to their control over power, laser width, speed, wobble, and overlap, and their quality is critical to battery pack performance. Tuning these parameters for an application typically requires weld trials to reach desired weld width, penetration, and strength without overheating the battery cell and weakening the dielectric insulators around the terminals. Poorly welded cells in a module can result in increased electrical resistance, causing greater joule heating and accelerated cell aging, and poorly welded modules can lead to uneven aging and unpredictable performance. To better understand the laser welding process, a modelling approach was developed to predict weld properties to reduce production time, costs, and potential cell damage. The 3D finite element model was calibrated using test data gathered using 1 mm thick aluminum busbars being welded onto 25 mm aluminum terminals with varying laser parameters. A volumetric gaussian heat source was used to characterize the modelled laser. Melting and vaporization in the weld were captured without explicitly modelling them by adjusting the model’s material properties to improve computational efficiency. Each simulation’s predicted melt pool cross section was compared to that of each corresponding weld trial. This modeling approach led to the development of a parametric tool that could quickly predict laser melt pool width and depth which can be used to accelerate laser weld process development.
Researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology and their collaborators have developed a multifunctional polyelectrolyte hydrogel reinforced with aramid nanofibers (ANFs) and MXene nanosheets, achieving outstanding performance in absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and wearable sensing. This innovative hydrogel addresses the long-standing challenge of balancing electrical conductivity and effective EMI absorption in flexible electronic materials. The research was published in the journal Nano-Micro Letters. 1
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted extensive attention due to their high safety, abundant reserves, and environmental friendliness. Iodine with high abundance in seawater (55 μg L-1) is highly promising for fabricating zinc-iodine batteries due to its high theoretical capacity (211 mAh g-1) and appropriate redox potential (0.54V). However, the low electrical conductivity of iodine hinders the redox conversion for an efficient energy storage process with zinc. Additionally, the formed soluble polyiodides are prone to migrate to the Zn anode, leading to capacity degradation and Zn corrosion.
The goal of the development of an electric aircraft engine is to create an aircraft system that achieves ultimate efficiency using hydrogen fuel instead of fossil fuels. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on reducing weight as much as possible, and this paper describes the approach to such fuel cell-powered aircraft. The authors have adopted a superconducting coreless rotating electric machine with an integrated hydrogen tank and are pursuing a target of 70kg or less for the main components of a 2MW rotating electric machine. High-temperature superconducting cables have zero electrical resistance and can carry a very high current density, but the alternating current (AC) loss generated when used in AC has been an issue in their application to rotating electric machines. In 2023, The SCSC cable was developed to be a low-AC-loss, robust, and high current cable concept, in which copper-plated multifilament coated conductors are wound spirally on a core. In addition to using this superconducting cable, the structure is designed to minimize the weight required to maintain the cryogenic state, and it consists of a single structure that combines a hydrogen tank and a rotating electric motor. This new type of superconducting rotating machine combines flux concentrated type field rotor technology and canned motor technology and provides a seal structure and bearings that make it practical. To put superconducting rotating machines to practical use in electric aircraft engines, it is necessary to transmit high currents from fuel cells, and this system proposes a flexible superconducting cable for power transmission with a hydrogen supply function that combines light weight and flexibility. As a result of performance estimation, we have confirmed that this superconducting rotating machine has the potential to improve performance by more than 10 times compared to our conventional products.
A glow plug is generally used to assist the starting of diesel engines in cold weather condition. Low ambient temperature makes the starting of diesel engine difficult because the engine block acts as a heat sink by absorbing the heat of compression. Hence, the air-fuel mixture at the combustion chamber is not capable of self-ignition based on air compression only. Diesel engines do not need any starting aid in general but in such scenarios, glow plug ensures reliable starting in all weather conditions. Glow plug is actually a heating device with high electrical resistance, which heats up rapidly when electrified. The high surface temperature of glow plug generates a heat flux and helps in igniting the fuel even when the engine is insufficiently hot for normal operation. Durability concerns have been observed in ceramic glow plugs during testing phases because of crack formation. Root cause analysis is performed in this study to understand the probable reasons behind cracking of the glow plug when it is subjected to in-operation conditions and design optimization is also suggested to reduce the risk of cracking. Multiphysics based simulation methodology is developed to capture the overall behavior of glow plug during manufacturing and in-operation conditions. Rapid heating of glow plug by passing of electricity is captured using a coupled electro-thermal simulation approach and the stress developed due to thermal gradient is also captured by a thermo-structural analysis. Effect of different operational parameters over the directional stresses are studied using the developed simulation approach to optimize the glow plug design. Stress comparison results between the existing model and the proposed optimized model is also presented in this paper to demonstrate the improvement in durability behavior of the optimized design compared to the initial design of glow plug. The overall analysis approach, described in this paper can be used as a decision-making tool during initial design stages of glow plug to come up with robust designs.
Disc brakes play a vital role in automotive braking systems, offering a dependable and effective means of decelerating or halting a vehicle. The disc brake assembly functions by converting the vehicle's kinetic energy into thermal energy through friction. The performances of the brake assembly and user experience are significantly impacted by squeal noise and wear behaviour. This paper delves into the fundamental mechanisms behind squeal noise and assesses the wear performance of the disc brake assembly. Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are an innovative type of composite material, characterized by gradual variations in composition and structure throughout their volume, leading to changes in properties such as mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, and corrosion resistance. FGMs have emerged as a groundbreaking solution in the design and manufacturing of brake rotors, addressing significant challenges related to thermal stress, wear resistance, and overall performance. These studies evaluate the noise and wear behaviour of disc brake assemblies made with FGMs. The paper also investigates the application of FGMs in brake rotors, highlighting their distinctive properties and the advantages they offer to automotive braking systems. The study underscores the importance of further research and development to fully leverage the benefits of FGMs in enhancing brake system performance.
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