High temperature Ir segregation in Ir–B ceramics: effect of oxygen presence on stability of IrB2 and other Ir–B phases

The formation of IrB₂, IrB_1.35, IrB_1.1 and IrB monoboride phases in the Ir–B ceramic nanopowder was confirmed during mechanochemical reaction between metallic Ir and elemental B powders. The Ir–B phases were analysed after 90 h of high energy ball milling and after annealing of the powder for 72 h at 1050°C in vacuo. The iridium monoboride (IrB) orthorhombic phase was synthesised experimentally for the first time and identified by powder X-ray diffraction. Additionally, the ReB₂ type IrB₂ hexagonal phase was also produced for the first time and identified by high resolution transmission electron microscope. Ir segregation along disordered domains of the boron lattice was found to occur during high temperature annealing. These nanodomains may have useful catalytic properties.     

基于制备超细复合含能材料的对置受限式撞击流反应器微观混合性能

由于对置受限式撞击流反应器较高的传热及混合效率，能够制备出粒径小、均匀且分布范围窄的超细颗粒。本文采用碘化物-碘酸盐平行竞争反应体系研究入射速度、结构尺寸对对置受限式撞击流反应器微观混合效果的影响规律，并将混合腔尺寸同等比例放大一倍进行对比研究。结果表明，随着入射速度的增大，离集指数减小，微观混合效果提高。喷嘴间距与喷嘴直径比的增大使得离集指数增大，微观混合效果降低。离集指数随着混合腔高度、混合腔出口尺寸的增大呈现先增大后减小的趋势，且混合腔高度对混合效果的影响较混合腔出口尺寸显著。将对置受限式撞击流反应器混合腔尺寸扩大一倍，离集指数增加到原来的2.4倍，微观混合效果显著下降，但是在较大入射速度下，两种结构的混合效果差距减小。研究结果可为纳米复合含能材料的制备提供高效、安全的技术支持。     

大方坯皮下负偏析带形成过程的数值模拟

针对某钢厂大方坯连铸过程中铸坯内部质量问题,通过耦合电磁-流动-热-溶质传输,建立多尺度、多物理场的三维数学模型,研究了高碳钢大方坯皮下负偏析带的形成过程。结果表明,铸坯皮下负偏析带是铸坯凝固前沿钢液流速和凝固速率共同作用的结果。对于四孔水口大方坯,铸坯皮下会经历两次负偏析,第一次负偏析是由水口射流造成的,第二次负偏析是由结晶器电磁搅拌造成的。磁搅参数的改变只会影响电磁搅拌影响区的负偏析程度,而不会影响负偏析带在铸坯中的位置及宽度,也不能改善铸坯中心的正偏析度。     

Surface segregation of Pd–Cu alloy in various gas atmospheres

Pd–Cu alloys have been investigated as promising candidates for hydrogen separation membranes. Surface segregation influences the long-term performance of these membranes since their catalytic effect is mainly controlled by the surface composition. In the present research, surface segregation of Pd-40 at.% Cu alloy in vacuum and various gas atmospheres (H₂, CO and CO₂) was investigated with both XPS and LEISS probing different depths below the surface. Adsorption of H₂ and CO on the surface has a significant impact and the surface segregation trend can be reversed as compared to segregation in vacuum, however, CO₂ has almost no influence on the segregation behaviour. A thermodynamic model is also presented to explain these phenomena and to understand surface segregation behaviour of binary alloys in various gas atmospheres. The results can be considered as basic guidelines to design novel alloys for hydrogen separation membranes and predict their long-term performance under actual working conditions.     

大方坯连铸轻压下工艺技术开发与应用

连铸轻压下技术为改善铸坯内部质量,减少中心疏松、中心缩孔和中心偏析的重要手段。简述了连铸轻压下冶金技术的基本原理与主要控制参数。介绍了韶关钢铁(SGIS)大方坯连铸轻压下工艺技术开发方法,以及在研究过程中存在的问题和应用的效果。通过大方坯轻压技术的开发, 掌握了轻压下工艺控制方法与要点,以及轻压下工艺参数与铸坯中心疏松、中心偏析的关系。结果表明,大方坯连铸采用轻压下工艺,轴承钢内部质量得到明显的改善,其中轴承钢总压下量达到了12 mm。采用轻压下工艺后,低于1.5级的中心疏松比例提升了18.8%,中心偏析指数由0.877~1.247优化为0.944~1.038。研究结果为韶关钢铁开发高质量、高性能、高附加值的特钢产品提供了重要的技术支撑。     

Strategy to design high performance TiB2-based materials: Strengthen grain boundaries by solid solute segregation

TiB₂ exhibits a unique combination of excellent properties that make it promising candidate for applications in extreme environments, where retention of strength at high temperatures is essential. Tailoring grain boundary properties by segregation is believed a prominent way to design high-temperature performance of ceramics. In this work, segregation tendencies of solute elements, including Sc, Y, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W, in TiB₂ grain boundaries and the strengthening/weakening effects induced by segregations are investigated by first-principles calculations. The results reveal that small atoms tend to segregate to grain boundary sites with local compression strains, while large atoms prefer grain boundary sites with local expansion strains. Deteriorated grain boundary strength is usually caused by additional expansion strain induced by segregation, while improved grain boundary strength results from either enhanced local bonding induced by segregation of small atoms or increased fracture strain due to segregation of large atoms. Cr and V, especially Cr, exhibit strong segregation tendency and improvement on grain boundary strength, which provides useful guidelines for the design of high performance TiB₂-based materials.     

高强度油井管钢中的Nb偏析及形成机制分析

摘要：研究了含Nb高强度油井管钢连铸坯和管材的Nb偏析行为。利用OM、SEM、EDS、EMPA等手段，揭示了含Nb高强度油井管钢连铸圆坯中存在的富Nb、富C点状缺陷及其与管材内壁出现的条带组织中大尺寸NbC的对应关系。从Nb、C元素含量与其固溶度积间的关系分析了Nb的偏析机制。分析认为，大尺寸NbC是由于Nb的分配系数小，在连铸坯凝固后期枝晶间大量富集所形成。经固溶度积计算，富集的Nb含量可高于基体的5.4倍。     

Cu-15Ni-8Sn-0.4Si合金铸态组织结构及成分偏析研究

用金相、扫描电镜及电子能谱微区成分分析等方法对添加少量Si的Cu-15Ni-8Sn合金的铸态组织结构及成分偏析进行了研究。结果发现：Cu-15Ni-8Sn-0.4Si合金的铸态组织分为三层，除具有明显的枝晶外，还有块状的（Cu、Ni)3Sn相和溶有少量Cu的Ni2Si和Ni3Sn相组成的第二层，在两层之间为组织形态复杂的过渡区。宏观上铸态组织存在Sn的反偏析，Sn的含量从外到内呈现下降趋势。与非真空熔铸相比真空熔铸能明显改善Cu-15Ni-8Sn-0.4Si合金反偏析现象。均匀化退火对改善Sn的反偏析作用不大；枝晶组织可基本消除，但Ni、Si元素形成的化合物仍难以完全溶解。添加少量Si的Cu-15Ni-8Sn合金由于Ni2Si和Ni3Si相的形成，通过阻碍晶粒长大和时效沉淀而强化合金。     

The removal of sulfate and metals from mine waters using bacterial sulfate reduction: Pilot plant results

A treatment process that bacterially converts sulfate into elemental sulfur via a hydrogen sulfide intermediate was demonstrated at pilot scale for the treatment of three mine waters that contained metals and sulfate. Ethanol served as the bacterial carbon and energy source. The mine waters were treated at rates that ranged from 50–150 L day⁻¹. Contaminant concentrations up to 13 mg L⁻¹ copper, 0.1 mg L⁻¹ mercury, 0.04 mg L⁻¹ cadmium, 3.5 mg L⁻¹ zinc, 0.68 mg L⁻¹ cobalt, 1.3 mg L⁻¹ nickel, 49 mg L⁻¹ iron, and 63 mg L⁻¹ aluminum were removed to meet water quality effluent limits. Manganese removal was about 80% under normal operating conditions but increased to 96% when the process was optimized for manganese removal. The process was shown to be capable of decreasing sulfate concentrations from 1800 mg L⁻¹ to less than 250 mg L⁻¹, nitrate from 100 mg L⁻¹ to less than 1 mg L⁻¹, arsenic from 8 mg L⁻¹ to less than 0.03 mg L⁻¹, and calcium from 310 mg L⁻¹ to less than 100 mg L⁻¹. Acid mine waters were neutralized using bacterially-generated alkalinity; no external alkalinity source was needed.     

Whites' neighbourhood racial preferences and neighbourhood racial composition in the United States: evidence from the multi‐city study of urban inequality

Within the housing segregation literature major disagreements have developed over two fundamental issues: (1) the role that whites' aversion to racially mixed neighbourhoods plays in causing modern segregation in the US; and (2) the factors that underlie this aversion, including the effects of inter‐racial contact on whites' neighbourhood racial preferences and whether these preferences reflect neighbourhood stereotyping as opposed to pure racial prejudice. Extant evidence on these issues is either old or indirect. This paper provides direct evidence on these issues using new data from the Multi‐City Study of Urban Inequality. The results suggest that (1) whites' neighbourhood racial preferences play an important role in explaining the racial composition of their neighbourhoods; (2) inter‐racial contact in neighbourhoods and workplaces leads to a greater willingness among whites to live with blacks; and (3) although younger and more educated whites express a stronger taste for integration than other whites, the magnitude of these differences leads to only a small increase in the black percentage of the neighbourhood. In addition, the results provide no evidence in support of the hypothesis that whites stereotype black neighbourhoods rather than blacks per se.