TY - CONF A1 - Mieller, Björn A1 - Schulz, Bärbel A1 - Rabe, Torsten T1 - Tailoring the spring constant of ceramic helical compression springs N2 - Ceramic springs combine attractive properties for applications in machinery, metrology, and sensor technology. They are electrically insulating, non-magnetic, provide a linear stress-strain behavior, and are stable at high temperatures and in corrosive environments. Generally, the precise dimensioning of a ceramic spring with respect to the spring constant is challenging. Different models are described, but many of these calculations do not match the actual spring properties. We demonstrate a reliable approach for the dimensioning and manufacturing of helical compression springs with a rectangular winding cross-section. Based on the German standard DIN 2090, which is referring to metallic springs, the spring constant can be calculated based on shear modulus, diameter, height, widths, and number of windings. Different ceramic springs were produced by milling of sintered hollow cylinders of zirconia, alumina and silicon nitride. The experimental spring constants are in very good agreement with the calculated values. Spring constants of zirconia springs were varied over three orders of magnitude between 0.02 N/mm and 5 N/mm by purposeful adaption of the spring geometry. The combination of dimensioning based on DIN 2090 and precise hard machining offers a reliable technology for the fabrication of tailored ceramic springs for special applications. T2 - 45th International Conference and Exhibition on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC 2021) CY - Online meeting DA - 08.02.2021 KW - Ceramics KW - Hard machining KW - Spring constant PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-52136 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mieller, Björn T1 - Electric field distribution on ceramic samples during dielectric strength testing N2 - The dielectric breakdown strength of ceramics strongly depends on the test conditions. Thus, standardized test procedures and thorough documentation are indispensable. However, during dielectric strength testing the breakdown often occurs near the electrode edge or even outside the specified electrode area. This behavior is similarly observed for printed and cylindrical electrodes. The aim of the presented study was to calculate the electric field strength distribution in a ball-on-plate testing setup for metallized samples and to correlate the field distribution with the observed breakdown locations. Small misalignments in the test setup were also considered in the simulations. Furthermore, the field strength at the breakdown Location should be compared to the experimentally determined dielectric strength. Therefore, Finite Element Models of several test conditions with varying printed electrode areas and sample thicknesses were created and electrostatic calculations of the electric field Distribution were performed. The simulation results were compared to experimental data. Alumina (96 %) was used as test material. The calculations show that the electric field strength maxima match the experimentally observed locations of breakdown. Without any fitting of the model, the maximum calculated field strength is in reasonable agreement with the experimental dielectric strength. The FE analysis is a helpful tool to understand the observations in experimental dielectric strength testing. T2 - CERAMICS 2021 / 96th DKG Annual Meeting CY - Online Meeting DA - 19.04.2021 KW - Dielectric breakdown KW - Dielectric strength KW - Electric field strength KW - Ceramics PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-52512 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mieller, Björn T1 - Practical breakdown voltage calculations using dielectric breakdown strength reference values N2 - Dielectric breakdown is a catastrophic failure of ceramic substrates and insulators. The use of dielectric breakdown strength (DBS) reference values for the dimensioning of such components is not straightforward, as the DBS depends on sample thickness and electrode area. This fact also hampers a valid comparison of data taken from different literature sources. Based on the empirically confirmed proportionality of DBS to the reciprocal square root of sample thickness and an approach to account for the influence of electrode area on the failure probability, a practical equation is derived to calculate the breakdown voltage for arbitrary sample thickness and electrode area from one set of DBS reference data. To validate the equation, the AC DBS of commercial alumina substrates with thicknesses ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm was performed using different printed electrodes with varying areas. The breakdown voltages comprise a range from 18 kV for thick samples to 8.5 kV for thin samples, resulting in DBS values from 17 kV/mm for 1.0 mm thick samples to 29 kV/mm for 0.3 mm thin samples, all made from the same material. The influence of electrode area is comparatively smaller. The results calculated with the proposed equation are in reasonable accordance with the measured data. Thus, the equation can be applied for a proper comparison of literature DBS data measured in different setups and for a reasonable estimation of breakdown voltages in DBS tests and applications based on reference data. T2 - Electroceramics Conference XVII CY - Online meeting DA - 24.08.2020 KW - Ceramics KW - Dielectric breakdown KW - Weibull distribution PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51151 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mieller, Björn A1 - Stargardt, Patrick A1 - Greinacher, M. T1 - Numerical study of electric field distribution in breakdown strength testing of ceramics N2 - Dielectric breakdown of insulators is a combined electrical, thermal, and mechanical failure. The exact breakdown mechanism in ceramics and the formulation of useful models are still subject of investigation. Recent studies highlighted that several experimental aspects of dielectric breakdown strength testing affect the test results, and thus impede the recognition of fundamental principles. Excess field strength near the electrode can lead to premature breakdown in the insulating liquid. This would cause superficial damage to the test specimen and thus falsify the measurement results. The field strength distribution is influenced by the ratio of permittivity of the sample and the surrounding insulating liquid. Premature breakdown depends on the breakdown strength of the liquid and the actual test voltage. The test voltage again depends on the specimen thickness. To systematically investigate these relations, a numerical simulation study (FEM) of the electric field distribution in a typical testing rig with cylindrical electrodes was performed. The permittivity of the sample and the insulating liquid was parameterized, as well as the sample thickness. The electric field distribution was calculated for increasing test voltage. Field strength maxima are compared to experimental breakdown strength of typical insulating liquids and experimental breakdown locations on alumina. Strategies are discussed to adjust the insulation liquid and the sample thickness to reduce the influence of the testing setup on the dielectric breakdown strength results. T2 - Ceramics in Europe 2022 CY - Krakow, Poland DA - 10.07.2022 KW - Ceramics KW - Dielectric breakdown strength KW - Electric field distribution KW - Alumina PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55325 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mieller, Björn T1 - Bestimmung der elektrischen Durchschlagfestigkeit keramischer Werkstoffe - Einfluss von Messverfahren und -umgebung N2 - Als elektrische Durchschlagfestigkeit bezeichnet man die elektrische Feldstärke, bei der es zur Entladung durch ein isolierendes Medium kommt. Im Falle von Festkörpern ist dies ein zerstörender Prozess. Bei der messtechnischen Bestimmung der Durchschlagfestigkeit haben neben den verwendeten Messgeräten auch die eingesetzten Elektroden, die Form des Prüfkörpers und das Isoliermedium, in dem die Prüfung stattfindet, einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die ermittelten Messwerte. Im Vortrag werden die Einflüsse erläutert und anhand von Messreihen aus der Literatur und der eigenen Forschung quantifiziert. Aufgrund der vorgestellten Effekte wird klar, dass es sich bei elektrischer Durchschlagfestigkeit nicht um absolute Materialkennwerte handelt, sondern vielmehr um systemabhängige Größen. T2 - 7. Sitzung des Fachausschusses 6 - Material- und Prozessdiagnostik der Deutschen Keramischen Gesellschaft (DKG) CY - Online meeting DA - 16.02.2023 KW - Keramik KW - Hochspannungsprüfung KW - Durchschlagfestigkeit PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57015 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mieller, Björn T1 - Electrode area dependence of dielectric breakdown strength N2 - Dielectric breakdown of ceramics is widely believed to originate from microstructural defects. Still, there is no commonly accepted model for the origin and process of dielectric failure that covers all observed phenomena and dependencies. In analogy to mechanical strength, the Weibull distribution is commonly used to evaluate dielectric strength data. This works well for a given group of specimens with constant geometry. But unlike mechanical strength, dielectric strength scales with the inverse square root of sample thickness. This cannot be explained by the classic Weibull concept. The Griffith type energy release rate model of dielectric breakdown proposed by Schneider is based on space charge injection and conducting filaments from the sample surface. This model incorporates the distinct thickness dependence and the pronounced influence of surface defects. Based on this model and the classic Weibull probability of failure, Schneider’s group theoretically derived a probability of breakdown that predicts an increase of failure probability with increasing electrode area. In our study we tested this model with dielectric strength data measured on dense alumina samples using different electrode areas. Weibull modulus and characteristic dielectric strength (scale parameter) were determined for a set of measurements using small electrodes. These values were used to calculate the failure probability under large electrodes according to the model. The calculated data excellently fits the measured values. Thus, our experiments substantiate the assumptions made in the breakdown model and the significance of surface defects for dielectric failure. T2 - 94. DKG Jahrestagung CY - Leoben, Austria DA - 05.05.2019 KW - Dielectric strength KW - Breakdown strength KW - Ceramics PY - 2019 AN - OPUS4-48015 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Miliūtė, Aistė A1 - Bustamante, Joana A1 - Mieller, Björn A1 - Stawski, Tomasz A1 - George, Janine A1 - Knoop, F. T1 - High-quality zirconium vanadate samples for negative thermal expansion (NTE) analysis N2 - Zirconium vanadate (ZrV2O7) is a well-known negative thermal expansion (NTE) material which exhibits significant isotropic contraction over a broad temperature range (~150°C < T < 800°C). The linear thermal expansion coefficient of ZrV2O7 is −7.1×10-6 K-. Therefore, it can be used to create composites with controllable expansion coefficients and prevent destruction by thermal shock. Material characterization, leading to application, requires pure, homogenous samples of high crystallinity via a reliable synthesis route. While there is a selection of described syntheses in the literature, it still needs to be addressed which synthesis route leads to truly pure and homogenous samples. Here, we study the influence of the synthesis methods (solid-state, sol-gel, solvothermal) and their parameters on the sample's purity, crystallinity, and homogeneity. The reproducibility of results and data obtained with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA) were analyzed extensively. The sol-gel method proves superior to the solid-state method and produces higher-quality samples over varying parameters. Sample purity also plays an important role in NTE micro and macro-scale characterizations that explain the impact of porosity versus structural changes. Moreover, we implement ab-initio-based vibrational computations with partially treated anharmonicity (quasi-harmonic approximation, temperature-dependent effective harmonic potentials) in combination with experimental methods to follow and rationalize the negative thermal expansion in this material, including the influence of the local structure disorder, microstructure, and defects. Khosrovani et al. and Korthuis et al., in a series of diffraction experiments, attributed the thermal contraction of ZrV2O7 to the transverse thermal motion of oxygen atoms in V-O-V linkages. In addition to previous explanations, we hypothesize that local disorder develops in ZrV2O7 crystals during heating. We are working on the experimental ZrV2O7 development and discuss difficulties one might face in the process as well as high-quality sample significance in further investigation. The obtained samples are currently used in the ongoing research of structure analysis and the negative thermal expansion mechanism. T2 - 4th International Symposium on Negative Thermal Expansion and Related Materials (ISNTE-4) CY - Padua, Italy DA - 04.07.2023 KW - NTE KW - Sol-gel KW - Solid-state KW - Ab-initio KW - TDEP PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58132 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Mieller, Björn ED - Kollenberg, W. T1 - Sintern N2 - Unter Sintern versteht man allgemein die Überführung eines aus Pulver geformten Rohlings in ein Formteil mit angestrebter Mikrostruktur bzw. gewünschten Gebrauchseigenschaften durch thermische Prozesse. In diesem Kapitel werden die Grundlagen zu Triebkräften und Kinetik sowie die prinzipiellen Mechanismen für Stofftransport und Verdichtung vorgestellt. Die verschiedenen Sintermechanismen Festphasensintern, Flüssigphasensintern und Reaktionssintern werden erläutert und mit einem Überblick über Drucksinterverfahren ergänzt. Abschließend wird ein Überblick über technologische Einflussfaktoren auf die Sinterung gegeben. KW - Technische Keramik KW - Sintermechanismen PY - 2018 SN - 978-3-8027-2986-7 SN - 978-3-8027-3081-8 SP - Kap. 4.6, 510 EP - 525 PB - Vulkan Verlag GmbH CY - Essen ET - 3 AN - OPUS4-43656 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schulz, T. A1 - Reimann, T. A1 - Bochmann, A. A1 - Vogel, A. A1 - Capraro, B. A1 - Mieller, Björn A1 - Teichert, S. A1 - Töpfer, J. T1 - Sintering behavior, microstructure and thermoelectric properties of calcium cobaltite thickfilms for transversal thermoelectric multilayer generators N2 - The sintering behavior and the thermoelectric performance of Ca3Co4O9 multilayer laminates were studied, and a multilayer thermoelectric generator was fabricated. Compacts and multilayer samples with anisotropic microstructure and residual porosity were obtained after conventional sintering at 920 °C, whereas dense and isotropic multilayer samples were prepared by firing at 1200 °C and reoxidation at 900 °C. A hot-pressed sample has a dense and anisotropic microstructure. Samples sintered at 920 °C exhibit low electrical conductivity due to the low density, whereas the Seebeck coefficient is not sensitive to preparation conditions. However, thermal conductivity of multilayers is very low, and, hence acceptable ZT values are obtained. A ransversal multilayer thermoelectric generator (TMLTEG) was fabricated by stacking layers of Ca3Co4O9 green tapes, AgPd conductor printing, and co-firing at 920 °C. The TMLTEG has a power output of 3 mW at ΔT =200 K in the temperature interval of 25 °C to 300 °C. KW - Thermoelectric oxide KW - Calcium cobaltite KW - Pressure-assisted sintering KW - Multilayer PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2017.11.017 SN - 0955-2219 SN - 1873-619X VL - 38 IS - 4 SP - 1600 EP - 1607 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-43983 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mieller, Björn A1 - Bresch, Sophie A1 - Marucha, P. A1 - Moos, R. A1 - Rabe, Torsten T1 - Sintering and interconnecting thermoelectric oxides for energy applications N2 - Today, more than 12% of the primary energy is lost in the form of waste heat. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can convert waste heat directly into electrical power by utilizing the Seebeck effect. The performance of such a generator is defined by a dimensionless figure of merit ZT of the thermoelectric pairs and the resistance R of the metallic contacts between these pairs. The figure of merit of thermoelectric oxides is considerably smaller compared to semiconductors. Still, thermoelectric oxides like calcium cobaltite (Ca3Co4O9) are attractive for applications at elevated temperatures in air. In contrast to the established π-type architecture of common TEGs, tape casting and multilayer technology may be applied for cost-effective manufacturing of oxide TEGs. Promising demonstrations of multilayer TEGs have been published in the last years. Still, the development of reliable and scalable manufacturing processes and proper material combinations is necessary. The aim of our project is to evaluate the feasibility of low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology for a practical manufacturing of oxide multilayer TEGs of Ca3Co4O9 (p-type) and calcium manganate (CaMnO3, n-type). Ca3Co4O9 exhibits an undesired phase decomposition at 926 °C. Because of that, the application of sintering strategies and interconnect concepts well known from LTCC technology is a promising approach. We present results of pressure-assisted sintering of Ca3Co4O9 multilayer at 900 °C and axial pressures of up to 7.5 MPa. Ca3Co4O9 was produced by solid state reaction of CaCO3 and cobalt(II,III)oxide at 900 °C. Green tapes were prepared by a doctor-blade process, manually stacked and laminated by uniaxial thermocompression. Sintering was conducted in a LTCC sintering press between SiC setter plates. The thickness shrinkage was recorded by an in-situ technique. After sintering under 7.5 MPa, the microstructure of the single phase material shows a high density of 95 % and an advantageous alignment of the platelet grains. This results in good electrical conductivity and a comparatively high ZT of 0.018 at room temperature. However, the lowering of CaMnO3 sintering temperature from above 1200 °C to below 920 °C remains a challenge. To select a proper metal paste for interconnections of an oxide TEG, several pastes have been investigated regarding contact resistance of internal and external (soldered) connections in a preliminary study. Commercial pastes containing Ag, Au, Au/Pt, Ag/Pd, and Ag/Pd/Bi were manually applied and post-fired on sintered test bars of Ca3Co4O9 and CaMnO3 at 900 °C for 2 h. All tested pastes formed mechanically stable metallization after firing. For resistance measurement, 4-wire method and a custom-made probe head were used. The contacts on Ca3Co4O9 exhibit significantly (2-sample t-test, α = 5%) higher resistance compared to contacts on CaMnO3. Pure silver paste exhibits the lowest resistance for internal contacts on both materials, lower than 5 mΩ on CaMnO3. Ag/Pd/Bi paste resulted in conspicuously high variance of resistance. EDX analyses clarified an enrichment of Bi in the thermoelectric material near the interface and thereby the formation of an oxide layer with probably high electrical resistance. The thickness of that layer varies with the thickness of metallization. In conclusion, the use of Bi containing pastes is not advisable. Pure Ag paste shows the best results regarding resistance and solderability. T2 - CICMT 2018 CY - Aveiro, Portugal DA - 18.04.2018 KW - Thermoelectric oxide KW - Thermoelectric generator KW - Multilayer technology KW - Pressure-assisted sintering PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-44740 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -