Structure, hardness and thermal stability of TiAlN and nanolayered TiAlN/CrN multilayer films

TiAlN films were deposited on silicon (1 1 1) substrates from a TiAl target using a reactive DC magnetron sputtering process in Ar+N₂ plasma. Films were prepared at various nitrogen flow rates and TiAl target compositions. Similarly, CrN films were prepared from the reactive sputtering of Cr target. Subsequently, nanolayered TiAlN/CrN multilayer films were deposited at various modulation wavelengths (Λ). X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis, nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the films. The XRD confirmed the formation of superlattice structure at low modulation wavelengths. The maximum hardness of TiAlN/CrN multilayers was 3900 kg/mm², whereas TiAlN and CrN films exhibited maximum hardnesses of 3850 and 1000 kg/mm², respectively. Thermal stability of TiAlN and TiAlN/CrN multilayer films was studied by heating the films in air in the temperature range (T_A) of 500-900 °C for 30 min. The XRD spectra revealed that TiAlN/CrN multilayers were stable up to 800 °C and got oxidized substantially at 900 °C. On the other hand, the TiAlN films were stable up to 700 °C and got completely oxidized at 800 °C. Nanoindentation measurements performed on the films after heat treatment showed that TiAlN retained a hardness of 2200 kg/mm² at T_A=700 °C and TiAlN/CrN multilayers retained hardness as high as 2600 kg/mm² upon annealing at 800° C.     

Nanomechanical characterization of RB-SiC ceramics based on nanoindentation and modelling of the ground surface roughness

Reaction bonded silicon carbide (RB-SiC) ceramics are the primary structure and mold materials for the optical industry and mostly are machined by means of ultra-precision grinding to achieve a satisfactory surface quality. However, it is not easy to attain the theoretical prediction of surface quality, particularly surface roughness, because of different mechanical characterization of Si/SiC phases inside the RB-SiC ceramics. In this work, the nanoindentation tests were performed to investigate the nanomechanical characterization of individual phase inside the RB-SiC ceramics. On the basis of the nanoindentation results of RB-SiC, a theoretical model was established to predict surface roughness in the ultra-precision grinding process, which considered the different removal mechanisms of Si matrix and SiC particles. The comparison of the prediction results of existing and novel models and single-factor experimental results shows that the novel model was well consistent with the experiment.     

Feasibility of laser surface treatment of pearlitic and bainitic ductile irons for hot rolls

The effects of laser surface treatment on the microstructure, crackability and stresses generated on laser hardened layers produced in several ductile cast iron materials were investigated. Two kinds of alloys having pearlitic (SGP) and acicular (SGA) matrix microstructures were selected. Hardened layers with thicknesses ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 mm were obtained by means of laser remelting (LSRm) or laser hardening (LSH). Thermal stresses generated upon laser processing have been estimated by a simple thermal model. For energy densities delivered onto the material at above 40 J/mm², extensive cracking was developed in SGA and SGP irons due to the contribution of thermal stresses. By lowering the energy density, crack formation was avoided in SGP irons only. At low energy densities, crack formation is controlled by the generation of transformational stresses due to excessive austenite retention. An increase of the surface temperature or the alloying content gave rise to an increase of the retained austenite and the formation of lower bainite at the remelted zone and the heat affected zones, respectively. K_C fracture toughness of Fe₃C carbides embedded in pearlitic and acicular matrixes was measured by means of the nano-indentation technique. Fracture toughness of cementite in SGP irons was slightly higher than in SGA irons, which can help to reduce the crackability of LSH layers.     

Multiscale characterization of carbonated wollastonite paste and application of homogenization schemes to predict its effective elastic modulus

This paper describes the multiscale characterization of the carbonated wollastonite paste using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and statistical nanoindentation (SNI, also known as ‘grid indentation’) methods as well as micromechanical homogenization models. Wollastonite (CaSiO₃) fibers are commonly used as filler in ceramics or plastics. However, wollastonite can also be regarded as non-hydraulic binder material since upon carbonation it forms a heterogeneous matrix with mechanical properties similar to those of the conventional hydrated cement pastes. Carbonation reaction of wollastonite results in the formation of two main products: calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and amorphous silica gel (SiO₂). The SEM/EDS microanalysis performed on this system revealed that the average calcium to silica (Ca/Si) atomic ratio of the silica gel phase was around 0.40. Three individual carbonated wollastonite paste samples, each representing a different degree of carbonation were selected for nanoindentation tests. The obtained elastic moduli for silica gel, calcium carbonate, and unreacted wollastonite grains were, respectively, 41.7 GPa, 67.3 GPa, and 134.7 GPa. The micromechanical homogenization models were then utilized to predict the effective (also referred to as ‘homogenized’) elastic moduli of the carbonated wollastonite paste. The predicted values of the effective elastic moduli of carbonated wollastonite pastes were found to be in the range of corresponding values for hydrated high to ultra-high performance cement pastes. Additionally, the values of the effective elastic moduli of the carbonated wollastonite pastes were observed to increase with the increase in the degree of carbonation.     

Nano-scale modulus mapping of biological composite materials: Theory and practice

The mechanical behavior of materials depends to a large extent on their properties at the nanoscale and, therefore, novel characterization techniques with sub-micron spatial resolution were developed in the last decades. Among them are the variety of tools for probing local elastic and viscoelastic properties of materials, the methods such as nanoindentation and AFM- and nanoindenter-based measurements using force modulation. In this review, we describe the nanoindenter-based nanoscale modulus mapping technique, which emerged as an extremely powerful tool for providing quantitative information on the storage and loss moduli distributions in complex nanocomposites. Since the tip penetrates only a few nanometers into the materials, this technique provides a superior lateral resolution in the order of 20 nm. All aspects of the method are covered, including a historical perspective, theoretical analysis, instrumentation, and examples of its application for studying multiphase structures and interfaces. The main focus of this review is the challenging field of natural bio-composites, which consist of stiff and compliant components, often with nanometric dimensions. Gradients of mechanical properties across the nm-sized features in biological materials are of upmost importance for their mechanical performance. Quantitative information on the nano-scale moduli distributions in these structures can hardly be achieved by other means.     

Nanoindentation characterised plastic deformation of a Al0.5CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy

Abstract

The plastic deformation of a high entropy alloy Al_0.5CoCrFeNi was investigated by instrumented nanoindentation over a broad range of strain rates at room temperature. Results show that the creep behaviour depends on the strain rate remarkably. In situ scanning images showed a significant pile up around the indents, demonstrating that a highly localised plastic deformation occurred in the process of nanoindentation. Under different strain rates, contact stiffness and elastic modulus basically remain unchanged. However, the hardness decreases as indentation depth increases due to indentation size effect. For the same maximum load, serrations became less prominent as the loading rate of indentation increased. Similar serrations have been observed in the current alloy upon quasi-static compression.     

Al-20Sm金属间化合物微观组织和力学性能研究

Al-Sm合金作为一种新型中子吸收材料,具有低成本、高塑性和高中子吸收率等优点,加工成箔材后可用于中子准直器、费米斩波器等中子关键器件。通过蒙特卡洛模拟(MCNP)对Al-Sm合金的中子透射率进行模拟计算,结果表明,当Sm含量增加到20%(质量分数,下同)以上时,材料在1～6 mm范围内的中子透射率均低于20%,Al-20Sm合金满足中子吸收率的同时具有一定的塑性。通过真空感应熔炼制备Al-20Sm合金,并采用XRD、EDS和SEM对该合金的微观结构和热处理前后的相转变展开研究。结果表明,铸态组织为α-Al和β-Al₄Sm,经过550℃/2h热处理后,发生同素异构转变,合金内的β-Al₄Sm全部转变为γ-Al₄Sm,550℃热处理300h以后,部分γ-Al₄Sm发生熔晶转变,形成Al₃Sm。采用纳米压痕技术测试Al-Sm中间化合物的微观力学性能,其中β-Al₄Sm、γ-Al₄Sm和Al₃Sm硬度分别为8.97、8...     

激光熔覆FeCoCrNiNb高熵合金涂层组织及力学性能

采用激光熔覆技术在304不锈钢表面制备了FeCoCrNi、FeCoCrNiNb等摩尔比高熵合金熔覆层,研究了Nb元素对熔覆层组织及性能的影响。采用XRD、SEM、EDS、纳米压痕测试和干滑动摩擦磨损实验等方法,详细分析了2种高熵合金熔覆层的相组成、组织演变、纳米硬度及耐磨性能。结果表明：FeCoCrNiNb高熵合金熔覆层相组成为fcc固溶体及富Nb-Laves相。FeCoCrNiNb熔覆层的纳米硬度(H)、弹性模量(E)、H/E和H³/E²分别为6.066 GPa、231.54 GPa、0.0262和0.0042,远高于FeCoCr Ni熔覆层的3.456 GPa、209.48 GPa、0.0165和0.000 94。随着纳米硬度的增加,FeCoCrNiNb熔覆层的摩擦系数和比磨损率也随之降低,分别为0.519和2.54×10^-6mm³/(N·m)。综上所述,FeCoCrNiNb高熵合金熔覆层具有良好的纳米硬度和耐磨性。     

热变形对TC11-Ti2AlNb电子束焊接件力学性能的影响

本文应用纳米压痕和维氏硬度的方法表征了TC11/Ti2AlNb电子束焊接焊缝区域在不同状态下的硬度和弹性模量分布,结合组织的演变分析了微纳米尺度的力学的变化。结果表明：在TC11合金的热影响区,马氏体α"相的分解是显微硬度降低的主要原因;而在焊缝以及Ti2AlNb热影响区区域,相的析出导致了显微硬度的增加。通过热变形以及锻后热处理都能够提高焊接区域的弹性模量。相比较而言,焊接态的焊缝弹性模量只有92GPa;而在变形和热处理后,弹性模量的值达到了130GPa。通过拉伸实验结果分析,焊缝在变形及热处理后屈服强度得到了较大提高,这和焊缝区域硬度和弹性模量的变化趋势一致。