Deformation behaviour of iron-doped alumina

Compressive creep tests in air were carried out on 1 cat.% Fe-doped alumina at a temperature T=1400 °C. Iron doping affected the plastic deformation by different ways in relation with Fe²⁺ cations population. Fe²⁺ cations sped up the deformation rates. FeAl₂O₄ spinel precipitates were identified and they were found (i) to interact with alumina grain boundaries (ii) to limit the grain growth within a range of strain. The Fe²⁺ cations underwent oxidation and this resulted in the dissolution of the some precipitates and in the decrease of deformation rates. It was suggested that deformation sped up this evolution through mass transport and that time was not a dominating parameter.     

Nanotribological study of PECVD DLC and reactively sputtered Ti containing carbon films

Amorphous carbon film, also known as DLC film, is a promising material for tribological application. It is noted that properties relevant to tribological application change significantly depending on the method of preparation of these films. These properties are also altered by the compositions of these films. DLC films are well known for their self-lubricating properties, as well. In view of this, the objective of the present work is to compare the tribological properties of diamond like carbon (DLC) film obtained by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) with the Ti containing nanocrystalline carbon (Ti/a-C:H) film obtained by unbalanced magnetron sputter deposition (UMSD) in nN load range. Towards that purpose, DLC and Ti/a-C:H films are deposited on silicon substrate by PECVD and UMSD processes respectively. The microstructural features and the mechanical properties of these films are determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and nano indenter. The surface topographies and the friction force surfaces of these films are evaluated by means of an atomic force microscope (AFM). The results show that although PECVD DLC film has higher elastic modulus and higher hardness than UMSD Ti/a-C:H film, the surface roughness and the friction coefficient of PECVD film is significantly higher than that of UMSD Ti/a-C:H film.     

Experimental investigation and thermodynamic assessment of the Zn–Cu–Sr ternary system

Zn–Cu–Sr alloys play a crucial role in the development of biodegradable implant materials based on zinc. The current study aimed to investigate the phase equilibria of the Zn–Cu–Sr ternary system in the Cu–Zn-rich region, through experimental analysis. For this purpose, fifteen and fourteen samples were respectively prepared and equilibrated at 350 and 400 °C, to determine the isothermal sections. The equilibrated alloys were then subjected to various analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry analysis (EDS), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The analysis revealed the presence of five three-phase equilibria and ten two-phase equilibria in the two isothermal sections. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate the phase transformation temperature with constant values of 8 at. % Sr and 30 at. % Cu. The obtained experimental results were used to perform a thermodynamic assessment of the Zn–Cu–Sr system especial in Zn-rich region using the calculation of phase diagrams (CALPHAD) method. The modified quasi-chemical model (MQM) was used to model the liquid solution, while the compound energy formalism (CEF) was used to represent Gibbs free energies of the solid phases. The present obtained thermodynamic parameters were found to accurately reproduce the experimentally measured phase relationships in the Zn–Cu–Sr ternary system.     

1D ZnFe2O4 nanorods coupled with plasmonic Ag,Ag2S nanoparticles and Co-Pi cocatalysts for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Improving the absorption of visible light, accelerating the separation of carries and reducing the recombination of electron-hole pairs are critical to enhance photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of ZnFe₂O₄. Herein, the ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/Ag₂S films are firstly prepared with a photocurrent density of 0.91 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is 9.10 times higher than that of pristine ZnFe₂O₄ (0.10 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs. RHE). On the basis, Co-Pi cocatalyst is deposited on ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/Ag₂S to further optimize PEC performance of ZnFe₂O₄, the photocurrent density of ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/Ag₂S/Co-Pi is 1.18 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs. RHE. The improved PEC performance of ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/Ag₂S/Co-Pi films could be attributed to: (i) fast transmission of electron-hole pairs owing to 1D ZnFe₂O₄ NRs; (ii) surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles; (ⅲ) visible light absorption is improved by sensitization of Ag₂S nanoparticles; (ⅳ) Co-Pi cocatalyst decreases the recombination of electron-hole pairs by capturing holes. This work provides new insights for metal plasmas, sensitizers and cocatalysts synergistically modify photoanodes for efficient PEC water splitting.     

Formation mechanism of periodic layered structure in Ni3Si/Zn system

The formation of periodic layered structure in Ni₃Si/Zn diffusion couples with Zn in vapor or liquid state was investigated by SEM-EDS, FESEM and XRD. The results show that the diffusion path in solid–liquid reaction is Ni₃Si/(T+γ)/γ/…T/γ/Ni₄Zn₁₂Si₃/γ/…Ni₄Zn₁₂Si₃/γ/Ni₄Zn₁₂Si₃/δ…/Ni₄Zn₁₂Si₃/δ/liquid-Zn, and the diffusion path in solid–vapor reaction is Ni₃Si/θ/(T+γ)/γ/…/T/γ/…T/γ/vapor-Zn. With increasing Zn diffusion flux, the diffusion reaction path moves toward the Zn-rich direction, and the distance from the Ni₃Si substrate to the periodic layer pair nearest to the interface decreases. In the initial stage of both reactions, γ phase nucleates and grows within T matrix phase at first, and then conjuncts together to form a band to reduce the surface energy. Based on the experimental results and diffusion kinetics analysis, the microstructure differences were compared and the formation mechanism of the periodic layered structure in Ni₃Si/Zn system was discussed.     

Analyzing the surface layer after WEDM depending on the parameters of a machine for the 16MnCr5 steel

The efficient wire electric discharge machining (WEDM) technology is a trade-off between the cutting speed and the resulting surface quality. A typical morphology of a surface machined using WEDM contains a large number of craters caused by the electric sparks generated in the cutting process. The paper analyzes the influence of the cutting speed on the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the craters formed on the surface of a workpiece made of the 16MnCr5 steel. Applying metallography to cross-section microscopic slides, diffusion subsurface damages were studied caused by the cutting. The diffusion processes taking place between the electrode and the material machined were studied using a local point EDX microanalysis applied both to the machined surfaces and to the cross sections. A detailed study was also carried out of the brass electrode to measure its wear rate caused by the cutting process as well as its degradation in terms of the quality of its morphology and the chemical composition of surface.     

Extraction of valuable metals from low nickel matte by calcified roasting−acid leaching process

A calcified roasting−acid leaching process was developed as a highly effective method for the extraction of valuable metals from low nickel matte in the presence of CaO additive. The influences of process parameters on the metal extraction were studied, including the roasting temperature, roasting time, addition of CaO, H₂SO₄ concentration and liquid−solid ratio. Under the optimum condition, 94.2% of Ni, 98.1% of Cu, 92.2% of Co and 89.3% of Fe were recovered. Additionally, 99.6% of Fe was removed from the leachate as goethite by a subsequent goethite iron precipitation process. The behavior and mechanism of CaO additive in the roasting process was clarified. The role of CaO is to prevent the formation of nonferrous metal ferrite phases by a preferential reaction with Fe₂O₃ during the roasting process. The metal oxides (CuO and Ni_xCu_1−xO) remained stable during high-temperature roasting and were subsequently efficiently leached using a sulfuric acid solution.     

Measurement of the mass transfer coefficient at workpiece surfaces in heat treatment furnaces

The mass (e.g. carbon) transfer coefficient at a workpiece surface is an important kinetic factor to control the heat treatment process of the workpiece and to evaluate heat treatment equipment. The coefficient can be calculated from the carbon concentration at the surface of a sample carburized in a carburizing furnace for a given time. Two common measurement methods which use a thin plate and employ a component as samples respectively are evaluated and compared for sensitivity and uncertainty. The comparison shows that the use of a component produces higher measurement precision and also has the advantage in measuring the carbon transfer coefficients at different treated positions. This method is then extended and discussed methodologically. Also two equations are proposed to calculate the carbon transfer coefficient and its uncertainty, respectively. This method is also applied to measure the carbon transfer coefficient in a fluidized bed heat treatment furnace.     

激光冲击催渗快速离子渗氮技术

采用常用42CrMo钢为研究材料,探索激光冲击预处理对离子渗氮的催渗效果与作用机理,提升离子渗氮效率。采用光学显微镜、粗糙度仪、扫描电镜、维氏显微硬度计研究激光冲击及离子渗氮后表层特性。结果表明,激光冲击对于离子渗氮具有显著的催渗效果。相同离子渗氮条件下,化合物层厚度和有效扩散层厚度都提高到传统离子渗氮的2倍左右。同时激光冲击预处理可显著提高试样表面硬度,并平缓截面硬度的下降趋势。激光冲击预处理对离子渗氮产生的显著作用源于：激光冲击预处理使试样表面粗糙度从0.015 μm提高到0.454 μm,有利于N原子吸附和氮化物形成;表层形成了厚度约200 μm的变形层,为N原子提供扩散通道,有利于提高扩散层氮浓度。