Microstructure and thermal stability of Al–Cr–X (X=Ni,Mo, Si) powders obtained by centrifugal atomisation

Abstract

The microstructure and the thermal stability of rapid solidified centrifugally atomised AI–3Cr–X (X=1Ni, 3Ni, 0·3Mo, 1Si, or 3Si, at.-%) powders were studied. Three main types of microstructure were observed in the powders: cellular, globular, and rosettelike. Some powders exhibited a mixture of these. In the atomised state the alloys usually had two phases, intermetallic Al₁₃Cr₂ and α-Al solid solution. Thermal stability was studied for a range of temperatures from 20 to 500°C. The phase Al₃Ni appeared in the nickel containing alloys and grew upon heat treatment. The molybdenum containing alloy did not show any noticeable change upon heat treatment. With respect to the silicon containing alloys, the intermetallic Al₁₃Cr₂ transformed into Al₁₃Cr₄Si₄ at high temperatures. On the basis of bibliographic information a nucleation map was calculated relating the prevalence of the intermetallic Al₁₃Cr₂ phase and the α-Al phase to the particle diameter and the chromium concentration of powder obtained by centrifugal atomisation.

MST/3273     

Structure,mechanical properties and grindability of dental Ti–10Zr–X alloys

This study aimed to investigate the structure, mechanical properties and grindability of a binary Ti–Zr alloy added to a series of alloying elements (Nb, Mo, Cr and Fe). The phase and structure of Ti–10Zr–X alloys were evaluated using an X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase analysis and optical microscope for microstructure of the etched alloys. Three-point bending tests were performed using a desk-top mechanical tester. Grindability was evaluated by measuring the amount of metal volume removed after grinding for 1 min at each of the four rotational speeds of the wheel (500, 750, 1000 or 1200 m/min). Results were compared with c.p. Ti, which was chosen as a control. Results indicated that the phase/crystal structure, microstructure, mechanical properties and grindability of the Ti–10Zr alloy can be significantly changed by adding small amounts of alloying elements. The alloying elements Nb, Mo, Cr and Fe contributed significantly to increasing the grinding ratio under all grinding conditions, although the grinding rate of all the metals was found to be largely dependent on grinding speed. The Ti–10Zr–1Mo alloy showed increases in microhardness (63%), bending strength (40%), bending modulus (30%) and elastic recovery angle (180%) over those of c.p. Ti, and was also found to have better grindability. The Ti–10Zr–1Mo alloy could therefore be used for prosthetic dental applications if other conditions necessary for dental casting are met.     

Effects of Ga–Ag, Ga–Al and Al–Ag additions on the wetting characteristics of Sn–9Zn–X–Y lead-free solders

The effects of Ga–Al, Ga–Ag and Al–Ag binary additions on the wetting characteristics of Sn–9Zn–X–Y lead-free solders are studied by the wetting balance method. Experimental results show that Sn–9Zn–1.0Ga–0.3Ag, Sn–9Zn–0.005Al–0.3Ag, and Sn–9Zn–0.3Ga–0.002Al possess better wettability than the other alloys tested. The mechanism by which Ga, Al, and Ag additions improve the wettability is also proposed. It appears that dense aluminum oxide film formation and the enrichment of Ga on the surface may protect the bulk liquid solder from further oxidation. Moreover, results also indicate that, AgZn₃ IMCs layer formed at the interface, which may release reaction energy during the wetting, results in improving the wettability of the solder.     

Microstructural change and precipitation hardening in melt–spun Mg–X–Ca alloys

Mg–Al–Si–Ca and Mg–Zn–Ca base alloys were rapidly solidified bymelt spinning at the cooling rate of about a million K/s. The melt-spun ribbons were aged in the range 100–400%C for 1 h. The effect of additional elements on microstructural change and precipitation hardening after heat treatment was investigated using TEM, XRD and a Vickers microhardness tester. Age hardening occurred after aging at 200%C in the Mg–Al–Si–Caalloys mainly due to the formation of Al₂Ca and Mg₂Ca phases, whereas in the Mg–Zn–Ca alloys mostly due to the distribution of Mg₂Ca. TEM results revealed that spherical Al₂Ca precipitate has the coherent interface with the matrix. Considering the total amount of additional elements, Mg–Zn–Ca alloys showed higher hardness and smaller size of precipitates than Mg–Al–Si–Ca alloys. With the increase of Ca content, the hardness values of the aged ribbons were increased. Among the alloys, Mg–6Zn–5Ca alloy showed the maximum value of age hardening peak(H_v:180) after aging at 200%C for 1h.     

Surface tension and density data for Fe–Cr–Mo,Fe–Cr–Ni,and Fe–Cr–Mn–Ni steels

The temperature dependence of surface tension and density for Fe–Cr–Mo (AISI 4142), Fe–Cr–Ni (AISI 304), and Fe–Cr–Mn–Ni TRIP/TWIP high-manganese (16 wt% Cr, 7 wt% Mn, and 3–9 wt% Ni) liquid alloys are investigated using the conventional maximum bubble pressure (MBP) and sessile drop (SD) methods. In addition, the surface tension of liquid steel is measured using the oscillating droplet method on electromagnetically levitated (EML) liquid droplets at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR, Cologne). The data of thermophysical properties for Fe–Cr–Mn–Ni is of major importance for modeling of infiltration and gas atomization processes in the prototyping of a “TRIP-Matrix-Composite.” The surface tension of TRIP/TWIP steel increased with an increase in temperature in MBP as well as in SD measurement. The manganese evaporation with the conventional measurement methods is not significantly high within the experiments (?_Mn < 0.5 %). The temperature coefficient of surface tension (dσ/dT) is positive for liquid steel samples, which can be explained by the concentration of surface active elements. A slight influence of nickel on the surface tension of Fe–Cr–Mn–Ni steel was experimentally observed where σ is decreased with increasing nickel content. EML measurement of high-manganese steel, however, is limited to the undercooling state of the liquid steel. The manganese evaporation strongly increased in excess of the liquidus temperature in levitation measurements and a mass loss of droplet of 5 % was observed.     

Structure,Composition, and Properties of Arc PVD Mo–Si–Al–Ti–Ni–N Coatings

Using an arc physical vapor deposition process, we have produced nanostructured Mo–Si–Al–Ti–Ni–N coatings with a multilayer architecture formed by Mo₂N, AlN–Si₃N₄, and TiN–Ni and a crystallite size on the order of 6–10 nm. We have studied the physicomechanical properties of the coatings and their functional characteristics: wear resistance, adhesion to their substrates, and heat resistance. According to high-temperature (550°C) wear testing and air oxidation (600°C) results, the coatings studied here are wearand heat-resistant under appropriate temperature conditions. Their properties are compared to those of Mo–Si–Al–N coatings.     

Thermodynamic characterization of Al–Cr,Al–Zr,and Al–Cr–Zr alloy systems

Abstract

The equilibrium phase diagrams of Al–Cr, Al–Zr, and Al–Cr-Zr, with particular reference to aluminium-rich alloys, have been critically reviewed. On the basis of these, and consistent with measured thermodynamic values, the binary systems have been thermodynamically characterized. Using these characterizations, phase equilibria have been extrapolated in the ternary, with the intention of augmenting the sparse experimental information concerning the equilibrium liquidus (0–10 at.%Cr, Zr) and solid solution range of aluminium in Al–Cr–Zr. Using the same parameters that define the equilibrium phase relationships, metastable phase relationships can also be extrapolated into the ternary.

MST/418     

Microstructural change and precipitation hardening in melt-spun Mg–X–Ca alloys

Mg–Al–Si–Ca and Mg–Zn–Ca base alloys were rapidly solidified by melt spinning at the cooling rate of about a million K/s. The melt-spun ribbons were aged in the range 100–400°C for 1 h. The effect of additional elements on microstructural change and precipitation hardening after heat treatment was investigated using TEM, XRD and a Vickers microhardness tester. Age hardening occurred after aging at 200°C in the Mg–Al–Si–Ca alloys mainly due to the formation of Al₂Ca and Mg₂Ca phases, whereas in the Mg–Zn–Ca alloys mostly due to the distribution of Mg₂Ca. TEM results revealed that spherical Al₂Ca precipitate has the coherent interface with the matrix. Considering the total amount of additional elements, Mg–Zn–Ca alloys showed higher hardness and smaller size of precipitates than Mg–Al–Si–Ca alloys. With the increase of Ca content, the hardness values of the aged ribbons were increased. Among the alloys, Mg–6Zn–5Ca alloy showed the maximum value of age hardening peak(H_v:180) after aging at 200°C for 1 h.     

Effect of Porosity on Thermal Conductivity of Al–Si–Fe–X Alloy Powder Compacts

The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of hot- and cold-pressed Al–17Si–5Fe–3.5Cu–1.1Mg–0.6Zr (mass%) alloy powder compacts were investigated as a function of the porosity volume fraction. Samples with a very low degree of porosity were produced by hot-pressing air atomized alloy powder with a particle size of 45–100 m. The same powder was used to produce highly porous compacts by cold compaction using a manual press. The thermal diffusivity of the powder compacts was measured using a sinusoidal modulation photopyroelectric technique in a configuration that is similar to the laser flash method. The thermal diffusivity of the material decreases by a factor of about 13 with an increasing porosity of 25 vol% and a factor of about 300 at 60 vol % porosity. Since the calculated specific heat (weighted average of mass specific heat values of major alloy compounds) is much less porosity dependent, the porosity dependence of the thermal conductivity is similar to the thermal diffusivity and decreases exponentially with increasing porosity. Microstructural characterization of high porosity samples prepared by cold compaction indicated that the distribution of pores is not uniform over the cross-section. An interconnecting network of open and closed pores in the form of channels created pockets of porosity,clearpage 2.3pc which are largely responsible for a drastic reduction of thermal conductivity 4pc with increasing porosity.     

Phase composition,structure, and mechanical properties of arc PVD Mo–Si–Al and Mo–Si–Al–N coatings

Using an arc physical vapor deposition process, we have produced nanostructured Mo–Si–Al coatings with a uniform distribution of equiaxed grains 8–12 nm in size and Mo–Si–Al–N coatings with a multilayer structure and a modulation period from 22 to 25 nm. The former coatings consist of MoSi₂ and Mo and the latter consist of Mo2N and amorphous Si₃N₄ and AlN. The hardness of the Mo–Si–Al–N and Mo–Si–Al coatings is 41 and 18 GPa, respectively; they are similar in resistance to elastic deformation; and the Mo–Si–Al–N coating has a considerably higher resistance to plastic deformation. The coatings have roughly identical coefficients of friction (~0.67–0.69 at 20°C and ~0.52–0.56 at 550°C), but the wear resistance of the Mo–Si–Al–N coating is higher by three and two orders of magnitude at 20 and 550°C, respectively. The coatings of the two systems exhibit good adhesion to the substrate and cohesive fracture. Partial wear of the Mo–Si–Al and Mo–Si–Al–N coatings in the course of scratch testing occurs at indentation loads of 80 and 63 N, respectively.     

Hybrid open-frameworks: hydrothermal synthesis,structure determinations and magnetic properties of MIL-29, two copper diphosphonates (CuII(H2O))2{O3P–X–PO3} with X=C2H4, CH2–C6H4–CH2

Two copper diphosphonates were hydrothermally synthesized using ethylenediphosphonic and p-xylenediphosphonic acids, synthesized according the Arbuzov method. The structure of (Cu^II(H₂O))₂{O₃P–CH₂–CH₂–PO₃} already described from powder data, was solved from single crystal data. Its symmetry is monoclinic (space group P2₁/c (no. 14)) with lattice parameters a=8.0670(4) Å, b=7.5889(4) Å, c=7.3997(4) Å, β=116.281(2)°, V=406.18(4) ų, Z=2. The structure of (Cu^II(H₂O))₂{O₃P–CH₂–(C₆H₄)–CH₂–PO₃} was solved by powder X-ray diffraction (space group P2₁/c (no. 14)) with lattice parameters a=10.812(1) Å, b=7.577(1) Å, c=7.412(1) Å, β=92.34(1)°, V=606.7(2) ų, Z=2. Both structures are built up from identical inorganic layers covalently linked by the organic chains which act as pillars. The inorganic layers contain dimers of edge-sharing CuO₄(H₂O) square pyramids linked by the PO₃C tetrahedra. Both compounds are antiferromagnetic at 4(1) K.     

Structure,mechanical properties,corrosion behavior and cytotoxicity of biodegradable Mg–X (X = Sn,Ga, In) alloys

As-cast Mg–Sn, Mg–Ga and Mg–In alloys containing 1–7 wt.% of alloying elements were studied in this work. Structural and chemical analysis of the alloys was performed by using light and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and glow discharge spectrometry. Mechanical properties were determined by Vickers hardness measurements and tensile testing. Corrosion behavior in a simulated physiological solution (9 g/l NaCl) was studied by immersion tests and potentiodynamic measurements. The cytotoxicity effect of the alloys on human osteosarcoma cells (U-2 OS) was determined by an indirect contact assay. Structural investigation revealed the dendritic morphology of the as-cast alloys with the presence of secondary eutectic phases in the Mg–Sn and Mg–Ga alloys. All the alloying elements showed hardening and strengthening effects on magnesium. This effect was the most pronounced in the case of Ga. All the alloying elements at low concentrations of approximately 1 wt.% were also shown to positively affect the corrosion resistance of Mg. But at higher concentrations of Ga and Sn the corrosion resistance worsened due to galvanic effects of secondary phases. Cytotoxicity tests indicated that Ga had the lowest toxicity, followed by Sn. The most severe toxicity was observed in the case of In.     

Factorial Designs,the |X′X| Criterion,and Some Related Matters

Two of the basic approaches to choosing an n-point experimental design in many industrial situations are (i) to set down a simple factorial or fractional factorial design in the factors being studied, or (ii) to choose a design based on the well-known |X′X| criterion. Experimenters often prefer (i) due to its simplicity; our viewpoint here is that (ii) is much better. We first indicate some situations for which (when all the factors are restricted to a cuboidal region) the factorial approach is optimal, as judged by the |X′X| criterion, but the assumed models are often not sensible ones in practical work. We then examine what (similarly restricted) designs are optimal under the |X′X| criterion for the standard linear models of first and second order; because of the very rapid increase in computational difficulties, we consider only “cube plus star” type designs for k ≥ 3 (except for k = 3, n = 10). In spite of computational requirements, we recommend use of the |X′X| criterion in general rather than the indiscriminate use of factorials and we briefly discuss the reasons why, both for linear and nonlinear model situations.     

Microstructure and precipitation in Al–Li–Cu–Mg–(Mn,Zr) alloys

Abstract

Hot rolled Al–6Li–1Cu–1Mg–0·2Mn (at.-%) (Al–1·6Li–2·2Cu–0·9Mg–0·4Mn, wt-%) and Al–6Li–1Cu–1Mg–0·03Zr (at.-%) (Al–1·6Li–2·3Cu–1Mg–0·1Zr, wt-%) alloys developed for age forming were studied by tensile testing, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For both alloys, DSC analysis shows that ageing at 150°C leads initially to formation of zones/clusters, which are later gradually replaced by S phase. On ageing at 190°C, S phase formation is completed within 12 h. The precipitates identified by 3DAP and TEM can be classified into (a) Li rich clusters containing Cu and Mg, (b) a plate shaped metastable precipitate (similar to GPB2 zones/S″), (c) S phase and (d) δ′ spherical particles rich in Li. The Zr containing alloy also contains β′ (Al₃Zr) precipitates and composite β′/δ′ particles. The β′ precipitates reduce recrystallisation and grain growth leading to fine grains and subgrains.     

Density and thermal expansion of Cr–Fe, Fe–Ni, and Cr–Ni binary liquid alloys

Densities and their temperature coefficients of liquid Cr–Fe, Fe–Ni, and Cr–Ni binary alloys have been measured containerless using the technique of electromagnetic levitation. Data have been obtained in a wide temperature range including the supercooled region. The density measurements indicate that these binary systems have a small and positive excess volume, whereas the excess free energies are negative. The temperature coefficients of these alloys can be estimated from those of the pure components. Hence, possible contributions from the temperature dependence of the excess volume can be ignored to calculate the temperature coefficient of density.     

Microstructure,mechanical properties,and cytotoxicity of low Young’s modulus Ti–Nb–Fe–Sn alloys

Journal of Materials Science - Ti–26Nb–2Fe–(0, 2, 4, 6, 8)Sn alloys were prepared by arc melting and subjected to homogenization, cold rolling, and solution treatment. The β...     

Synthesis,growth mechanism,photoluminescence and field emission properties of metal–semiconductor Zn–ZnO core–shell microcactuses

Metal–semiconductor Zn–ZnO core–shell microcactuses have been synthesized on Si substrate by simple thermal evaporation and condensation route using NH₃ as carrier gas at 600 °C under ambient pressure. Microcactuses with average size of 65–75 μm are composed of hollow microspheres with high density single crystalline ZnO rods. The structure, composition and morphology of the product were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). A vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) based growth mechanism was proposed for the formation of Zn–ZnO core–shell microcactuses. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) investigations revealed a strong and broad blue emission band at 441 nm associated with a weak ultraviolet (UV) peak at 374 nm. This blue emission (BE) is different from usually reported green/yellow-green emission from Zn–ZnO or ZnO structures. The field emission (FE) measurements exhibited moderate values of turn-on and threshold fields compared with reported large field emissions for other materials. These studies indicate the promise of Zn–ZnO core–shell microcactuses for the applications in UV-blue light display and field emission microelectronic devices.     

Liquid–liquid phase equilibria,density difference,and interfacial tension in the Al–Bi–Si monotectic system

We have performed thermodynamic calculation of the phase equilibria in the ternary monotectic system Al–Bi–Si. The liquid–liquid miscibility gap in the Al–Bi–Si system extends over almost the entire concentration triangle. The thermal analysis data for (Al_0.345Bi_0.655)_100−x Si _x alloys (x = 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt%) excellently agree with the calculated phase diagram. The experimental density difference of the coexisting liquid phases shows a good agreement with the density difference calculated in the approximation of ideal solution using the densities of pure elements and the compositions of L′ and L′′ from the thermodynamic calculation. The liquid–liquid interfacial tension in the (Al_0.345Bi_0.655)_100−x Si _x liquid alloys increases with Si content. The experimental temperature dependence of the interfacial tension is well described by the power low in reduced temperature (T _C–T) at approach of the critical temperature with the exponent μ = 1.3, which is close to the value predicted by the renormalization group theory of critical behavior.     

Synthesis of multilayered composite nanotube heterostructure; SiC–SiO2, C–SiO2, and C–SiC–SiO2 nanotubes

Three types of composite nanotube heterostructures (two double-layered and one triple-layered structure) are synthesized by simple heat treatment, forming SiC–SiO₂, C–SiO₂, and C–SiC–SiO₂ composite coaxial nanotubes. These multilayered composite nanotubes consist of several components with different electrical properties, for example, metal, semiconductor, and insulator components. In particular, C–SiC–SiO₂ triple-layered nanotubes with metallic, semiconducting, and insulating layers are synthesized for the first time. These multilayered nanotubes can be expected to find applications in nanoscale heterostructure electronic and optical devices.