In recent years, the development of techniques for the controlled preparation of functional graded materials (FGMs) has become a vigorous research field. In this study, to improve the efficiency and accuracy of sample preparations, an automated feeding system based on gravimetric principles for dry powder with three dosing feeders is designed and realized. The feeding rate and accuracy can be regulated by coordinating the protruded length L (mm) and rotational speed V (r/min) of the feeder stirrer. To demonstrate this automatic sample preparation system, the well-known thermoelectric material Bi_xSb_2−xTe₃ (x = 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8) is selected and prepared by the developed system, and the composition distribution of the functional graded material is characterized. Experimental results show that the Bi_xSb_2−xTe₃ (x = 0.3–0.8) functionally graded material crystalizes in the rhombohedral phase after hot-pressing sintering and annealing and the prepared sample has a good gradient composition distribution. This verifies the reliability and accuracy of the feeding system. The concept of samples with a gradient component and application of the automatic powder feeding system could considerably accelerate the research and development of new materials.

中文翻译：

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使用自动送粉系统加速分级热电材料的样品制备

近年来，功能梯度材料（FGM）的可控制备技术的发展已成为一个活跃的研究领域。在这项研究中，为提高样品制备的效率和准确性，设计并实现了一种基于重量原理的干粉自动进料系统，该系统具有三个定量给料器。进料速度和精度可以通过调整进料搅拌器的突出长度L（mm）和转速V（r / min）进行调节。为了演示这种自动样品制备系统，著名的热电材料Bi _x Sb _{2− x} Te ₃（x ＝ 0.3、0.4、0.5、0.6、0.7和0.8）并通过开发的系统制备，并表征功能梯度材料的组成分布。实验结果表明，Bi _x Sb _{2- x} Te ₃（x  = 0.3–0.8）功能梯度材料在热压烧结和退火后在菱面体相中结晶，所制备的样品具有良好的梯度成分分布。这验证了进料系统的可靠性和准确性。带有梯度成分的样品的概念和自动供粉系统的应用可以极大地加快新材料的研究和开发。