Characterization,Removal and Evaluation of Oxide Film in the Diffusion Bonding of Zr55Cu30Ni5Al10 Bulk Metallic Glass

The composition of oxide film of ZrssCu3oNi5Al10 bulk metallic glass was identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In addition, the relatively sound joints of bulk metallic glass without macroscopic deformation were obtained by removing the oxide film before diffusion bonding. The joint interfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The hardness of joints near the interface was higher than that far away from the interface, which is attributed to the difference of structural relaxation. According to the result of micro-focused X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy, the joints retained the amorphous structure when the holding time is less than 20 min. The surface area fraction of oxide film on the interface of joints was detected by ultrasonic inspection. Moreover, the surface area fraction of oxide film is in excellent agreement with the theoretical value calculated by shear strength. The result indicated that surface oxide film is the dominant barrier on the diffusion bonding of bulk metallic glass rather than low atomic diffusion coefficient.     

Effect of welding process parameters on embrittlement of Grade P92 steel using Granjon implant testing of welded joints

Precipitation of Cr-rich carbides, diffusible hydrogen content and heterogeneous microstructure formation across the weldments makes heat-affected zone (HAZ) susceptible to intergranular cracking and makes weldability of creep strength enhanced ferritic (CSEF) Grade P92 steel a critical issue. In the present research work, the Granjon implant test and mercury method (for diffusible hydrogen measurement) have been performed on Grade P92 steel welded specimens to study the effect of welding parameters on diffusible hydrogen levels and their subsequent effect on hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC). The weld metal was deposited by a shielded metal arc welding process on Grade P92 steel samples using P92 matching filler. The three different welding conditions are used to measure the diffusible hydrogen level in the deposited metal. Granjon implant test was performed to evaluate HAZ HAC susceptibility with similar welding conditions which were used in the mercury method. Lower critical stress (LCS) was also evaluated using the Granjon implant test. The higher susceptibility of CSEF Grade P92 steel welded plate towards HAZ HAC was noticed in case of lower heat input or higher diffusible hydrogen content. However, by considering LCS, fracture mode and diffusible hydrogen content, the weld deposited using the highest heat input (condition III) offers great resistance to HAZ HAC.     

First-principles study of point defects and Si site preference in Al3Ti

The formation energies of various point defects in Al₃Ti(D0₂₂) have been calculated by using first-principles calculation. The effects of vacancies on Si site preference were examined to better understand Si substitution behavior in Al₃Ti. The results show that, under Al-rich condition, the formation energy of antisite Al_Ti is the lowest than those of other point defects, and Ti vacancy is more preferred than Al vacancy. But Si prefers to occupy Al vacancy compared with Ti vacancy which causes a finite solubility of Si in Al₃Ti system. The calculation is instructive for the further improvements of process of Si removal.     

High temperature deformation with diffusional and plastic accommodation in Ti/TiB whisker-reinforce in-situ composites

A steady-state creep model of a metal matrix composite was proposed considering the accommodation processes of the misfit strain between the matrix and reinforcements in order to comprehensively explain dispersion strengthening, composite strengthening and composite weakening. The proposed model was verified experimentally using the model composites, Ti/TiB in situ composites of 5, 15 and 20vol.%TiB, which have a good interfacial bonding, suitable size and aspect ratio of TiB for a moderate diffusional accommodation rate, and no fine oxides. A sigmoidal curve in a double-logarithmic scale of stress and strain rate was observed in the creep of Ti/15TiB at 1123 K and was classified into a complete-diffusional-accommodation region corresponding to composite weakening, a diffusional-accommodation-controlled region and a plastic-accommodation-controlled region corresponding to composite strengthening with increasing stress. The activation energies in the three regions were close to those of the volume, interface and volume diffusion of Ti, respectively. In the plastic-accommodation-controlled region, the strain rate decreased with increasing volume fraction, while near the complete-diffusional-accommodation region, the strain rate scarcely changed. The strain rate of the transverse creep was ten times that of the longitude creep in the plastic-accommodation-controlled region, while the difference was scarcely observed near the complete-diffusional-accommodation region.     

Joining ZTA ceramic by using Dy2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glass ceramic filler

In this paper, a novel Dy₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ (DAS) glass ceramic was designed and prepared for joining zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramic. The crystallization, thermal expansion behavior and wetting behavior of the DAS glass filler were studied. The effect of cooling rate and joining temperature on the microstructure and flexural strength of joints was investigated. The results show that slow cooling rate (15 °C/min) leads to crystallization of brazing seam, which causes the formation of pores in the joints due to the large density difference between the glass and the crystalline phases. The dissolution of ZrO₂ from ZTA substrate into the filler during joining process improves the mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the brazing seam and substrate. The maximum flexural strength of 535 MPa is obtained when the joining temperature and cooling rate are 1475 °C and 50 °C/min, respectively.     

Influence of impurities on hot-rolled molybdenum for high temperature applications

Refractory metals are crucial for high-temperature applications such as fusion reactors. However, no systematic research has been reported for the influence of the impurities in refectory metals, especially at high temperatures. Our goal is an investigation of the influence of dissolved impurities on the recrystallization behavior of hot-rolled molybdenum (Mo). Two sets of 80%-rolled Mo plates with different purity levels pure Mo and non-pure Mo with the content of impurities, O, C, N, etc. are analyzed. Both isothermal and isochronous annealing experiments demonstrated that the impurities resulted in a reduction of recrystallization temperature and acceleration of texture transformation in a Mo plate. The recrystallization temperature of as-rolled non-pure Mo is about 100 °C lower than that of pure Mo. EBSD results show deformed γ-fiber texture gets weakened while {001}〈110〉 component gets strengthened at 1250 °C for pure Mo and 1150 °C for non-pure Mo, leading to the destabilization of fibrous grains. The XRD and TEM results reveal that the dislocation density of as-rolled non-pure Mo is ~2.4 times that of pure Mo. This discovery deviates from the conventional understanding of impurities or second phase particles in metals, providing better practical knowledge and opportunities to establish the technical parameters of refractory metals for high temperatures applications.     

Properties of super heat-resistant silicon carbide fibres with in situ BN coating

An in situ BN coating was prepared on the surface of a nearly stoichiometric continuous SiC fibre with trademark Cansas-3301 (C3). The coated fibre was then subjected to continuous pyrolysis at 1800 °C, obtaining a fibre named Cansas-BN-1800 (C18). After annealing in Ar at 1500 °C for 1 h, the strength retention ratio of C3 was 49%, and that of C18 was almost unchanged. The strength decrease of the C3 fibre was mainly caused by the formation of surface defects resulting from fibre decomposition and active oxidation. However, the in situ BN coating on C18 protected the fibre from forming surface defects, resulting in high strength. Due to slight growth of the grain and purification of the grain boundary during fast heating at 1800 °C, C18 showed excellent creep resistance in the range of 1200–1500 °C.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of squeeze-cast Al−5.0Mg−3.0Zn−1.0Cu alloys in solution-treated and aged conditions

The microstructure and mechanical properties at different depths of squeeze-cast, solution-treated and aged Al−5.0Mg−3.0Zn−1.0Cu alloy were investigated. For squeeze-cast alloy, from casting surface to interior, the grain size of α(Al) matrix and width of T-Mg₃₂(AlZnCu)₄₉ phase increase significantly, while the volume fraction of T phase decreases. The related mechanical properties including ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation decrease from 243.7 MPa and 2.3% to 217.9 MPa and 1.4%, respectively. After solution treatment at 470 °C for 36 h, T phase is dissolved into matrix, and the grain size increases so that the UTS and elongation from surface to interior are respectively reduced from 387.8 MPa and 18.6% to 348.9 MPa and 13.9%. After further peak-aging at 120 °C for 24 h, numerous G.P. II zone and η′ phase precipitate in matrix. Consequently, UTS values of the surface and interior increase to 449.5 and 421.4 MPa, while elongation values decrease to 12.5% and 8.1%, respectively.     

A physically-based model for global collision avoidance in 5-axis point milling

Although 5-axis free form surface machining is commonly proposed in CAD/CAM software, several issues still need to be addressed and especially collision avoidance between the tool and the part. Indeed, advanced user skills are often required to define smooth tool axis orientations along the tool path in high speed machining. In the literature, the problem of collision avoidance is mainly treated as an iterative process based on local and global collision tests with a geometrical method. In this paper, an innovative method based on physical modeling is used to generate 5-axis collision-free smooth tool paths. In the proposed approach, the ball-end tool is considered as a rigid body moving in the 3D space on which repulsive forces, deriving from a scalar potential field attached to the check surfaces, and attractive forces are acting. A study of the check surface tessellation is carried out to ensure smooth variations of the tool axis orientation. The proposed algorithm is applied to open pocket parts such as an impeller to emphasize the effectiveness of this method to avoid collision.