Metal diborides are a class of ceramic materials with crystal structures consisting hexagonal sheets boron atoms alternating planes metal held together mixed character ionic/covalent bonds. Many the ultrahigh-temperature ceramics such as HfB2, TaB2, and ZrB2, which have melting points above 3000 °C, high mechanical hardness strength at temperatures, chemical resistance, while MgB2 is supercondu...

The effects of HfB₂ and HfN additions on the microstructures and mechanical properties of TiB₂-based ceramic tool materials were investigated. The results showed that the HfB₂ additive not only can inhibit the TiB₂ grain growth but can also change the morphology of some TiB₂ grains from bigger polygons to smaller polygons or longer ovals that are advantageous for forming a relatively fine micro...

We report high-quality, hard (31–41 GPa), crack-resistant (hardness-to-effective Young's modulus ratio of 0.13–0.16) and electrically conductive (2.8–4.2 × 105 S m?1) HfB2-based ceramic materials with high thermal stability. The were prepared in the form well adhesive films using a simple deposition process: pulsed magnetron sputtering (B4C target overlapped by metal stripes) onto floating subs...

The high-velocity impact resistance of hot-pressed zirconum diboride with 30 volume percent silicon carbide was studied using a combined experimental and computational approach. Test specimens in the form of 2 mm thick polished disks were impacted with -0.8 mm diameter tungsten carbide spheres at velocities up to 320 d s . The intrinsic flexure strength of the specimens was -1000 MPa. The flexu...

Aims: The ability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to bind fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB1, FB2) in fermented foods and feeds and in the gastrointestinal tract could contribute to decrease their bioavailability and toxic effects on farm animals and humans. The aim of this work was to identify the bacterial cell wall component(s) and the functional group(s) of FB involved in the LAB–FB interaction. Metho...