In the age of artificial intelligence, when computers seem to be able to do everything, should the material research conducted every day also change dramatically? Should the research methods we've been using be changed with the help of powerful computers? These problems are worthy of our consideration. Material research involves many influencing factors, such as material system itself and material preparation process, which is a typical multi-factor system problem. Unfortunately, it is difficult for us to study the non-linear multi-factor complex objects immediately. The univariization method that each factor is studied one by one has been used. Such research results have great limitations. For example, the interaction between factors cannot be revealed. Orthogonal experiments and uniform experimental design are important methods for conducting efficient multi-factor studies. However, the limitations of later data processing of this method cannot meet the requirements of high-level material research. This paper discusses the problem of multi-factor research methods. On the basis of multi-factor uniform experimental design, the importance design methods of additional experimental are proposed. The steps and effects of this method is illustrate with a tow-dimensional sample.

First, a uniform experimental design was used to perform the first round studies with the multi-factors adjusted simultaneously. Multivariate cubic spline method was used to process the obtained multivariate data for obtaining the multivariate function. Then, the multivariate function is used as the weight function to conduct the importance experiment design for the second round of additional experiment design. Importance sampling can achieve more efficient experimental design based on the experimental data of the first round uniform sampling. Finally, multivariate nonlinear mathematical models can be obtained by using artificial neural network for all multidimensional experimental data. With the obtained model, factor optimization and properties prediction can be performed, and also the influence of any single factor can be discussed by fixing the other factors. This method can obtain the relationship model for multifactorial system including interactive influence with less experimental amount. The model can be obtained directly by multi-factor researches, rather than integrating from the univariate results.

The powerful mathematical tools MATLAB is suggested to obtain the multivariate nonlinear mathematical models, solving the weight function problem of importance sampling and the final multivariate data processing problem. A new way for improving the efficiency and level of multi-factor material research is provided.

With the increasing demand of lithium ion batteries in electronic products market, higher requirements have been put forward for the performance and cost of the sagger used for sintering of lithium battery cathode material. In this paper, a comprehensive summary and outlook are made on the types of raw materials commonly used for preparation of the saggars for sintering of lithium battery cathode materials in the market, as well as the studies on the main performance affecting the service life of the saggar. In order to find a way to increase the service life of the saggar and reduce the cost of raw materials.

Ceramic core is a critical component in the super-alloy turbine blade casting. In our previous work, a novel multi-phase MgAl₂O₄/MgO porous ceramic was prepared for this purpose. The most important property was that it crumbled completely after hydrothermal treatment in just pure water, due to the hydration of MgO. In this work, the hydration process of the MgO embedded in the inert matrix was investigated in detail. The collapse behaved as an interior destruction without any bulk expansion of the sample. The hydration percentage was the only factor related to the water-collapsibility. The morphology of hydration product indicated that the reaction advanced in particular direction. Based on the finite element analysis for the expansion effect on the porous structure, the interior-collapsing mechanism was proposed. During the hydration process, the MgO grains exerted pressure to the surrounding matrix and induced the collapse in the adjacent structure. This process took place throughout the matrix. Finally, the sample crumbled completely to the powders. No bulk dilatation was detected before the powdering, indicating that the collapse process would not exert pressure outward. Thus the alloy blade would not be damaged during the removal of the ceramic core. It was also predicted that the decrease in the MgO grain size was beneficial to the water-collapsibility.

ZrB₂-SiBCN ceramics with ZrO₂ additive are hot-pressed under a constant applied pressure. The densification behavior of the composites is studied in a view of creep deformation by means of the Bernard-Granger and Guizard model. With determination of the stress exponent (n) and the apparent activation energy (Q_d), the specific deformation mechanisms controlling densification are supposed. Within lower temperature ranges of 1300-1400 ℃, the operative mechanism is considered to be grain boundary sliding accommodated by atom diffusion of the polymer-derived SiBCN (n = 1, Q_d = 123±5 kJ/mol) and by viscous flow of the amorphous SiBCN (n = 2, Q_d = 249±5 kJ/mol). At higher temperatures, the controlling mechanism transforms to lattice or intra-granular diffusion creep (n = 3-5) due to gradual consumption of the amorphous phase. It is suggested that diffusion of oxygen ions inside ZrO₂ into the amorphous SiBCN decreases the viscosity, modifies the fluidity, and contributes to the grain boundary mobility.

Three dimensional (3D) printing technology by direct ink writing (DIW) is an innovative complex shaping technology, possessing advantages of flexibility in fabrication, high efficiency, low cost, and environmental-friendliness. Herein, 3D printing of complex alumina ceramic parts via DIW using thermally induced solidification with carrageenan swelling was investigated. The rheological properties of the slurry under different thermally-induced modes were systematically studied. The solidification properties of thermally-induced pastes with varying contents of carrageenan were optimized. The experimental results showed that the optimized paste consisting of 0.4 wt% carrageenan could be rapidly solidified at about 55 ℃, which could print inclined-plane more than 60° in vertical without support, resulting in better homogeneity of the green body. A nearly pore-free structure was obtained after sintering at 1600 ℃ for 2 h.