Effects of Mo on microstructure of as-cast 28 wt.% Cr–2.6 wt.% C–(0–10) wt.% Mo irons

Microstructures of as-cast 28 wt.% Cr–2.6 wt.% C irons containing (0–10) wt.% Mo with the Cr/C ratio of about 10 were studied and related to hardness. The experimental irons were cast into dry sand molds. Microstructural investigation was performed by light microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. It was found that the iron with about 10 wt.% Mo was eutectic/peritectic, whereas the others with less Mo content were hypoeutectic. The matrix in all irons was austenite, partly transformed to martensite during cooling. Mo addition promoted the formation of M₂₃C₆ and M₆C. At 1 wt.% Mo, multiple eutectic carbides including M₇C₃, M₂₃C₆ and M₆C were observed. M₂₃C₆ existed as a transition zone between eutectic M₇C₃ and M₆C, indicating a carbide transition as M₇C₃(M_2.3C) → M₂₃C₆(M_3.8C) → M₆C. At 6 wt.% Mo, multiple eutectic carbides including M₇C₃ and M₂₃C₆ were observed together with fine cellular/lamellar M₆C aggregates. In the iron with 10 wt.% Mo, only eutectic/peritectic M₂₃C₆ and M₆C were found without M₇C₃. Mo distribution to all carbides has been determined to be increased from ca. 0.4 to 0.7 in mass fraction as the Mo content in the irons was increased. On the other hand, Cr distribution to all carbides is quite constant as ca. 0.6 in mass fraction. Mo addition increased Vickers macro-hardness of the irons from 495 up to 674 HV₃₀. High Mo content as solid-solution in the matrix and the formation of M₆C or M₂₃C₆ aggregates were the main reasons for hardness increase, indicating potentially improved wear performance of the irons with Mo addition.     

9%Cr heat resistant steels: Alloy design, microstructure evolution and creep response at 650 °C

In this work 9%Cr alloys were designed supported by computational thermodynamic methods. Two sets of alloys were produced: 9%Cr alloys with 0.1%C and 0.05%C and 9%Cr alloys containing ∼0.03% Ti with 0.1%C and 0.05%C (always wt%). Microstructure investigations showed good agreement with the predicted phases of the thermodynamic modeling. The volume fraction of precipitated M₂₃C₆ carbides is directly related to the carbon content of the alloys. For Ti-containing alloys the precipitation of nano-sized Ti-rich MX carbonitrides was observed. The microstructure evolution (sub-grain and particle size) during creep at 650 °C/100 MPa was investigated by STEM-HAADF. The sub-grain size evolution and the coarsening of precipitates (MX carbonitrides, M₂₃C₆ and Laves phase) were more pronounced for Ti-containing alloys. 9Cr alloys without Ti and with low carbon content presented the highest creep strength of all investigated alloys.     

The variation of tensile characteristics of Al-2 wt.%Ag and Al-2 wt.%Ag-1 wt.%Sn alloys during transformation

Effect of tin addition and heat treatment on the work hardening characteristics of Al-2 wt.%Ag alloy during phase transformation has been studied in the deformation temperature range from 503 K to 583 K. The fracture strain ?_f, and dislocation slip distance L increased with increasing deformation temperature. On the other hand the coefficient of work hardening χ = δσ²/δ?, the fracture time t_f, yield stress, σ_y fracture stress, σ_f decreased with increasing deformation temperature and exhibited an abrupt increase at about 553 K. The Sn-free samples were generally harder than the ternary alloy. The activation energy of the fracture mechanism in both alloys was around 26.8 ± 3 kJ/mol and 34.6 ± 3 kJ/mol before and after transformation temperature (553 K), respectively. The quenched samples are harder than those of slowly cooled samples. From X-ray analyses it is clear that when lattice strain ? and dislocation density ρ increases, the crystallite size η decreases.     

Effect of annealing on characteristics of Ni48Fe12Cr40/Ni80Fe20 bilayer films deposited on Si(1 0 0)/SiO2 by electron beam evaporation

Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀(7 nm)/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀(40 nm) bilayer films and Ni₈₀Fe₂₀(40 nm) monolayer films were deposited at ambient temperature on Si(1 0 0)/SiO₂ substrates by electron beam evaporation. The effect of annealing on the structure, composition, magnetization and magnetoresistance of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films was investigated. The structure of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films remains stable for annealing temperature up to 280 °C. For the as-deposited bilayer film the introducing of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀ underlayer promotes both the [1 1 1] texture and grain growth in the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer. The annealing promotes the grain growth of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films when the annealing temperature exceeds 280 °C. After annealing at a temperature over 280 °C, Cr atoms inside the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀ layer diffuse into the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer and segregate on the surface of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer. The Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀ underlayer as a seed layer can enhance the anisotropic magnetoresistance ratio of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ layer at a annealing temperature up to 280 °C compared with Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ monolayer film. After annealing at a temperature over 280 °C, however, the anisotropic magnetoresistance ratio of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ monolayer films exceeds that of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films. For all annealing temperatures, the coercivities of the Ni₄₈Fe₁₂Cr₄₀/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer films are smaller than those of the Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ monolayer films.     

烧结Cr15高铬铸铁组织与性能的研究

为研发耐磨性能优良、成本相对低廉的高铬铸铁,本文分别以亚共晶、过共晶的水雾化Cr15高铬铸铁粉末为原料,采用超固相线液相烧结工艺制备了烧结高铬铸铁(SHCCI),并对其显微组织、力学性能和冲击磨粒磨损工况下的耐磨性能进行对比研究。结果表明,烧结高铬铸铁主要由M7C3碳化物、马氏体和奥氏体组成;在亚共晶烧结高铬铸铁中,通过电解腐蚀萃取的M7C3碳化物三维形貌呈珊瑚状,沿晶界均匀分布,材料抗冲击耐磨性能优良;在过共晶烧结高铬铸铁中,优先形成的初生碳化物可能成为共晶碳化物的生长基底,形成核-壳结构的M7C3碳化物,沿晶界相互连接呈网状,严重割裂基体。亚共晶、过共晶烧结高铬铸铁的力学性能分别为:硬度HRC63.9、HRC64.3,冲击韧性7.92、3.04 J/cm^2,抗弯强度2112.65、1624.87 MPa。     

Improving fracture toughness and hardness of Fe2B in high boron white cast iron by chromium addition

The effect of chromium containing 0%, 0.49%, 1.02%, 2.1%, 3.2% (in wt.%) on the morphology, fracture toughness and micro-hardness property of Fe₂B in high boron white cast iron was investigated. The results indicated that, with an increase of chromium addition, the morphology of Fe₂B becomes larger and changes from the block to rod shape, its micro-hardness increases and the fracture toughness increases first and then decreases. Compared with the fracture toughness (3.8 MPa m^1/2) of Fe₂B without chromium addition, the toughness at 2.1 wt.% chromium addition can be improved by above one time, achieving 7.8 Mpa m^1/2, and the result was also qualitatively testified by the micro-cracks in Fe₂B based on scanning electron microscope micrographs.     

Stacking faults in chromium,iron and vanadium mixed carbides of the type M7C3

Carbides found in white cast-iron containing 2.88% carbon, 15.22% chromium and 3.08% vanadium have the stoichiometric formula Cr_2.8V_0.7Fe_3.4C₃. They belong to the type M₇C₃ and are isomorphic with the chromium carbide Cr₇C₃. A modification of the approximate structure, given by Westgren, was considered in which carbon atoms were assumed to be situated right at the centre of gravity of perfectly symmetrical right-angled prisms. The great number of crystal defects that the carbides always contain were studied by electron microscopy and electron diffraction. They are stacking faults having as their fault planes one of the three equivalent planes (1 0 ¯1 0), (1 ¯1 0 0) or (0 1 ¯1 0), and as their fault vectorsR=a/2 orb/2 or (a+b)/2. A detailed examination of the diffraction patterns which contain streaks or extra reflections indicates that, in strongly faulted carbides, the stacking faults are ordered. A simple model which views the structure of M₇C₃ as a stacking sequence of right-angled prisms containing carbon atoms is proposed. Using this model, the order of the stacking faults can be easily interpreted. It suggests that the stacking fault energy is very weak, hence the frequent occurrence of the stacking faults in the carbides.     

Precipitates change of ferritic‐martensitic 11 % chromium steel under short‐term creep

A ferritic‐martensitic (FM) 11 % chromium steel with final heat treatment was subjected to a short‐term creep test at a stress of 150 MPa and 600 °C for 1100 h in order to study the change of precipitates in the steel during the creep test. Except for Nb‐rich metall carbides (MC, M₂₃C₆) and Laves phases, Fe‐W‐Cr‐rich M₆C (based on Fe₃W₃C) carbides forming during the creep test were also identified in the crept steel by electron diffraction and x‐ray diffraction in combination with energy dispersive x‐ray analysis of extraction carbon replicas. The identified M₆C carbides have a fcc crystal structure, a metallic element composition of approximately 44Fe, 32 W, and 20Cr in atomic %, and large sizes ranging from 100 nm to 300 nm in diameter. The M₆C carbides are a dominant phase in the crept steel. M₆X precipitates are generally not easy to form during high temperature creep, even if it is a long‐term creep, in ferritic‐martensitic 9–12 % chromium steels with a final heat treatment. The present work provides the evidence for the M₆C carbides forming during short‐term creep in ferritic‐martensitic high chromium steels. The formation of the M₆C carbides was discussed.     

Microstructure evolution of HP40-Nb alloys during aging under air at 1000 °C

Two as-cast HP 40 alloys provided by different manufacturers were aged at 1000 °C under laboratory air. They had the same as-cast microstructure consisting of austenite dendrites delineated by a network of eutectic Nb-rich MC and Cr-rich M₇C₃ carbides. After aging for several months, they showed similar microstructures in the bulk materials, though M₇C₃ carbides have been replaced by M₂₃C₆ carbides. As expected, a sub-surface zone depleted in chromium has appeared where a tetragonal CrNbC could be identified in both materials. However, the composition of the transition zones between the surface and the bulk materials differed, mainly because one of the materials underwent significant nitrogen pick-up with associated precipitation of M₆(C,N) and M₂(C,N) phases. On the contrary, the other alloy did show only one intermediate zone with a mix of CrNbC, M₂₃C₆ and MC carbides. A full account of the microstructures observed in the aged materials is given.     

Solidification structure of C2.08Cr25.43Si1.19Mn0.43Fe70.87 powders fabricated by high pressure gas atomization

Powders of hypoeutectic high chromium white cast iron (C_2.08Cr_25.43Si_1.19Mn_0.43Fe_70.87) were produced by high pressure gas atomization. The microstructure of the powders was characterized using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the as-atomized powders were mainly composed of austenite and M₇C₃ (M = Fe, Cr) type carbide, and became ferrite and carbide after annealing. With the decrease of the powder diameter, the number of austenite grains, primary dendrite length and second dendrite arm spacing were decreased. The relationship between cooling rate and microstructure was also determined.     

Magnetocaloric properties in Ln0.67Ba0.33Mn1 − xFexO3 (Ln = La or Pr) manganites

We have investigated the magnetocaloric properties of Ln_0.67Ba_0.33Mn_1 − xFe_xO₃ (Ln = La or Pr) manganites with x = 0 and 0.05. All compounds present a maximum and large magnetocaloric effect near the Curie temperature (T_C). The associated maximum value of the magnetic entropy change, at 5 T applied change in the magnetic field, is 4.37 J.kg^− 1.K^− 1 for Pr_0.67Ba_0.33MnO₃ manganite with a T_C value of 205 K. The corresponding relative cooling power (RCP) reaches 230 J.kg^− 1. All the samples present similar RCP values that are relatively high and are promising materials to be used in ecologically friendly magnetic refrigeration technology. Iron doping reduces both T_C and ΔS_M^max and spreads the temperature working range with an almost constant RCP and can then be used to tune the working conditions of a refrigerator device.     

Characteristics of NixFe100−x films deposited on SiO2/Si(1 0 0) by DC magnetron co-sputtering

Ni_xFe_100−x films with a thickness of about 200 nm were deposited on SiO₂/Si(1 0 0) substrates at room temperature by DC magnetron co-sputtering using both Fe and Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ targets. Compositional, structural, electrical and magnetic properties of the films were investigated. Ni₇₆Fe₂₄, Ni₆₅Fe₃₅, Ni₆₀Fe₄₀, Ni₅₅Fe₄₅, Ni₄₉Fe₅₁ films are obtained by increasing the sputtering power of the Fe target. All the films have a fcc structure. Ni₇₆Fe₂₄, Ni₆₅Fe₃₅, Ni₆₀Fe₄₀ and Ni₅₅Fe₄₅ films grow with crystalline orientations of [1 1 1] and [2 2 0] in the direction of the film growth while the Ni₄₉Fe₅₁ film has the [1 1 1] texture structure in the direction of the film growth. The lattice constant of the film increases linearly with increasing Fe content. All of the films grow with thin columnar grains and have void networks in the grain boundaries. The grain size does not change markedly with the composition of the film. The resistivity of the film increases with increasing Fe content and is one order of magnitude larger than that of the bulk. For all the films the magnetic hysteresis loop shows a hard magnetization. The Ni₇₆Fe₂₄ film has the lowest saturation magnetization of 6.75×10⁻² T and the lowest saturation field of 8.36×10⁴ A/m while the Ni₄₉Fe₅₁ film has a largest saturation magnetization of 9.25×10⁻² T and the largest saturation field of 1.43×10⁵ A/m.     

Development of crystal texture in R-lean RFeCoNbB (R = Nd,Pr) alloy during melt spinning processes

The formation of crystal texture of R₂Fe₁₄B nanocrystals in R–Fe–B (R = rare earth) alloys with low R content (<11.8 at.%) is the most critical issue for the development of anisotropic nanocomposite magnets. In the present study, we succeeded in yielding a strong crystal texture for (Nd,Pr)₂Fe₁₄B nanocrystals during the melt spinning processes of Nd_3.6Pr_5.4Fe₈₀Co₃NbB₇ by effectively employing the seeding effect of α-Fe nanocrystal texture. The (Nd,Pr)₂Fe₁₄B nanocrystals produced from the R-lean alloy at a wheel speed of 18 m/s show a strong (0 0 l) texture parallel to the ribbon plane, which yields a high remanence M_r = 0.78M_s and a large energy product (BH)_max = 25.2 MGOe for the α-Fe/(Nd,Pr)₂Fe₁₄B nanocomposite ribbons. The present study provides a promising approach to prepare anisotropic nanocomposite magnets from R-lean alloys.     

Effect of thermal exposure on the stability of carbides in Ni-Cr-W based superalloy

The microstructure evolutions of Ni-Cr-W based superalloy during thermal exposure have been investigated systematically. M₆C carbides in the alloy decompose into M₂₃C₆ carbides at temperatures from 650 to 1000 °C due to its high content of Cr. The M₆C carbides decompose dramatically from 800 to 900 °C. At temperatures up to 1000 °C, a few M₂₃C₆ carbides form on the surface of M₆C carbides. The decomposition behavior of primary M₆C can be explained by the following reaction: M₆C → M₂₃C₆ + Me (W, Ni, Cr, Mo). At temperatures below 900 °C, coarse lamellar M₂₃C₆ carbides precipitate at the grain boundaries. The carbide lamellae line almost perpendicular to the grain boundaries. While the temperature is above 1000 °C, discrete M₂₃C₆ carbides precipitate at the grain boundaries. Moreover, there are lots of small M₂₃C₆ particles precipitated around M₆C carbides from 650 to 1000 °C.     

Duplex surface treatment of AISI 1045 steel via plasma nitriding of chromized layer

In this work AISI 1045 steel were duplex treated via plasma nitriding of chromized layer. Samples were pack chromized by using a powder mixture consisting of ferrochromium, ammonium chloride and alumina at 1273 K for 5 h. The samples were then plasma-nitrided for 5 h at 803 K and 823 K, in a gas mixture of 75%N₂ + 25%H₂. The treated specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Vickers micro-hardness test. The thickness of chromized layer before nitriding was about 8 μm and it was increased after plasma nitriding. According to XRD analysis, the chromized layer was composed of chromium and iron carbides. Plasma nitriding of chromized layer resulted in the formation of chromium and iron nitrides and carbides. The hardness of the duplex layers was significantly higher than the hardness of the base material or chromized layer. The main cause of the large improvement in surface hardness was due to the formation of Cr_xN and Fe_xN phases in the duplex treated layers. Increasing of nitriding temperature from 803 to 823 K enhanced the formation of CrN in the duplex treated layer and increased the thickness of the nitrided layer.     

Sol-gel auto-combustion synthesis of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/(SiO2)x (x = 10, 20, 30 wt.%) nanocomposites and their characterizations

A nitrate-citrate-silica gel was prepared from metallic nitrates, citric acid and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) by sol-gel process, and it was further used to synthesize Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄/SiO₂ nanocomposites by auto-combustion. The obtained Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄/(SiO₂)_x (x = 10, 20, 30 wt.%) samples were characterized by IR, ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR, XRD, TEM, EPR and impedance analyzer measurements. Particle size of these composites was calculated from Scherrer's formula, and that decreased with increasing SiO₂ content. The content of TEOS in the starting solution affects the interaction between NiZn ferrite and silica, and then determines the particle size, dielectric properties and the EPR properties (ΔH_PP, g factor, N_S and T₂) of the as-synthesized powder.     

The influence of vanadium on fracture toughness and abrasion resistance in high chromium white cast irons

The influence of vanadium on wear resistance under low-stress conditions and on the dynamic fracture toughness of high chromium white cast iron was examined in both the ascast condition and after heat treatment at 500 °C. A vanadium content varying from 0.12 to 4.73% was added to a basic Fe-C-Cr alloy containing 2.9 or 19% Cr. By increasing the content of vanadium in the alloy, the structure became finer, i.e. the spacing between austenite dendrite arms and the size of massive M₇C₃ carbides was reduced. The distance between carbide particles was also reduced, while the volume fraction of eutectic M₇C₃ and V₆C₅ carbides increased. The morphology of eutectic colonies also changed. In addition, the amount of very fine M₂₃C₆ carbide particles precipitated in austenite and the degree of martensitic transformation depended on the content of vanadium in the alloy. Because this strong carbide-forming element changed the microstructure characteristics of high chromium white iron, it was expected to influence wear resistance and fracture toughness. By adding 1.19% vanadium, toughness was expected to improve by approximately 20% and wear resistance by 10%. The higher fracture toughness was attributed to strain-induced strengthening during fracture, and thereby an additional increment of energy, since very fine secondary carbide particles were present in a mainly austenitic matrix. An Fe-C-Cr-V alloy containing 3.28% V showed the highest abrasion resistance, 27% higher than a basic Fe-C-Cr alloy. A higher carbide phase volume fraction, a finer and more uniform structure, a smaller distance between M₇C₃ carbide particles and a change in the morphology of eutectic colonies were primarily responsible for improving wear resistance.     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of bulk nanocrystalline Fe3Al materials with 5, 10 and 15 wt.% Cr prepared by aluminothermic reaction

Bulk nanocrystalline Fe₃Al based materials with 5, 10 and 15 wt.% Cr were prepared by aluminothermic reaction, in which melts were superheated about 1500 K before solidification. Microstructures of the materials were investigated by optical microscope, electron probe microscope, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. It was shown that microstructure of the materials consist of nanocrystalline matrix phase, which was composed of Fe, Al and Cr elements, and a small amount of contamination. The nanocrystalline phase was disordered bcc structure, and which did not change with Cr content. Average grain sizes of the nanocrystalline phase of the materials with 5, 10 and 15 wt.% Cr were 33, 21 and 37 nm, respectively. Compressive properties and hardness of the materials were tested. It indicated that the materials had a considerable plastic deformation and were not fractured in compression. Yield strength of the materials were about three times higher but hardness were a little lower than those of Fe₃Al material with coarsen grain. The hardness and yield strength of the materials varied slightly with Cr content and that of the material with 10 wt.% Cr was slightly lower. Average grain sizes of the materials decreased and texture changes appeared after the compression.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Ti doped Li3 − xFe2 − xTix(PO4)3/C cathode materials

Li_3 − xFe_2 − xTi_x(PO₄)₃/C (x = 0-0.4) cathodes designed with Fe doped by Ti was studied. Both Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃/C (x = 0) and Li_2.8Fe_1.8Ti_0.2(PO₄)₃/C (x = 0.2) possess two plateau potentials of Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ couple (around 2.8 V and 2.7 V vs. Li⁺/Li) upon discharge observed from galvanostatic charge/discharge and cyclic voltammetry. Li_2.8Fe_1.8Ti_0.2(PO₄)₃/C has higher reversibility and better capacity retention than that of the undoped Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃/C. A much higher specific capacity of 122.3 mAh/g was obtained at C/20 in the first cycle, approaching the theoretical capacity of 128 mAh/g, and a capacity of 100.1 mAh/g was held at C/2 after the 20th cycle.     

Growth and magnetic properties of ultrathin Ni1 + xFe2 − xO4 films for spin filter junctions

We investigated the spin filter effect in tunnel junctions with a Ni_1 + xFe_2 − xO₄ ferrimagnetic tunnel barrier. For higher T_c above room temperature, Ni_1 + xFe_2 − xO₄ film should be thicker than 4.0 nm and grown above 400 °C. The spin filter junctions (SFJs) of Fe₃O₄(001)/Ni_1 + xFe_2 − xO₄(001)/Al₂O₃/Fe/Au grown on MgO(001) substrates exhibited an inverse magnetoresistance effect at room temperature, which is consistent with the band calculation of NiFe₂O₄.