Based on Landau-Devonshire theory, the electrothermal properties of PbTiO3bulk and film are computed near the temperatures of their phase transitions. A first-order ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition is present in PbTiO3bulk. The coercive electric field at 700 K is about 25 MV m-1. High applied electric fields drive the transition to higher temperatures and theP−Tcurves to be continuous. For PbTiO3 film, the second-order phase transition reduces the excess entropy, and thereby the isothermal entropy change. With increasing electric field, the excess specific heat capacity becomes small, despite higher transition temperatures. The change of in-plane tensile misfit stress lowers the transition temperature. Besides, the adiabatic temperature change and the refrigerant capacity of PbTiO3bulk are 4.76 K and 94.1 kJ m-3, respectively.

Biological material was prepared by adhering different amount of bamboo charcoal filler into the matrix of polyvinyl formal foam by manual controlled foaming process. The material bears properties of low density, high strength, and good adsorption ability from the advantage of polyvinyl formal. It can be used as new efficient biological supporting material in sewage disposal system. The effects of hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde, bamboo charcoal, and temperature on the preparation were investigated.

The high-phosphorus electroless Ni–P plating coating with 11.64 at.% was prepared by electroless technology. By means of x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, the morphologies and phase structures of coating were analyzed. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of coating were studied by micro-hardness tester and universal friction-wear testing machine. The results reveal that, with increasing heat-treatment temperatures, the hardness and the wear resistance of the coating are enhanced increasingly. Treated by 1 hour at 500 oC, the hardness and the wear resistance both display a optimum value, i.e. 1004 HV and 1.5×10-3g, respectively. The thermal shock test suggests that between coating and matrix exist a perfect cohesion.

The two Cu60Ni20Cr20alloys with the different grain size were prepared by conventional casting (CA) and mechanical alloying (MA) through hot pressing. Effect of the grain size on electrochemical corrosion behavior of the two Cu60Ni20Cr20 alloys was also studied in solutions containing chloride ions. Results show that the free corrosion potentials of the two alloys move toward to negative values, corrosion current densities increase and therefore corrosion rates become faster with the increment of chloride ion concentrations. CACu60Ni20Cr20alloy and MACu60Ni20Cr20alloy have passive phenomena in 0.05mol/L Na2SO4 neutral solution, but passive phenomena become weak or disappear when the chloride ions are added. Corrosion rates of the nanocrystalline MACu60Ni20Cr20alloy become slower than those of the coarse grained CACu60Ni20Cr20alloy in solutions containing the same chloride ion concentrations because MACu60Ni20Cr20alloy is able to produce large concentrations of grain boundaries and passive elements is able to diffuse quickly to form the protective film.

Botanical insecticides have advantages of wide range of sources, easily made with local materials, low-cost, cost savings, useful and safe to people, animals and crops, etc. The compound of botanical insecticide is an effective way to improve the efficacy of such pesticides. With the development of green agriculture, it will gain more and more attention.