Mechanical properties and wear behavior of Al5083 matrix composites reinforced with high amounts of SiC particles fabricated by combined stir casting and squeeze casting; A comparative study

Combined stir casting and squeeze casting processes were used to fabricate Al5083 matrix composites reinforced with 20, 25, and 30 wt% SiC_p. The microstructure, mechanical properties and wear behavior of the composites fabricated by combined stir casting and squeeze casting were compared with those fabricated by stir casting. The results revealed that the combined casting method improved the distribution of SiC particles through the reduction of the agglomeration of SiC particle and reduced the porosities of the samples from 2.32% to 1.29% in the sample containing 30 wt% SiC. These modifications led to the enhancement of mechanical properties i.e. increased the hardness to 85 BHN and the compressive strength to 350 MPa for the sample containing 30 wt% SiC fabricated by the combined casting method. In addition, the wear resistance of the samples fabricated by the combined casting method improved because of the reduced size of the wear debris as well as the smaller worn region. The dominant wear mechanism of all the composite samples fabricated by both methods was the delamination of the tribological layer while adhesion wear was dominant in the monolithic Al alloy.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg–RE–TM Cast Alloys Containing Long Period Stacking Ordered Phases: A Review

Casting magnesium alloys hold the greatest share of magnesium application products due to their short processing period, low cost and near net shape forming. Compared with conventional commercial magnesium alloys or other Mg–RE-based alloys, the novel Mg–RE–TM cast alloys with long period stacking ordered(LPSO) phases usually possess a higher strength and are promising candidates for aluminum alloy applications. Up to now, two ways: alloying design and casting process control(including subsequent heat treatments), have been predominantly employed to further improve the mechanical properties of these alloys. Alloying with other elements or ceramic particles could alter the solidifi cation pattern of alloys, change the morphology of LPSO phases and refi ne the microstructures. Diff erent casting techniques(conventional casting, rapidly solidifi cation, directional solidifi cation, etc.) introduce various microstructure characteristics, such as dendritic structure, nanocrystalline, metastable phase, anisotropy. Further heat treatments could activate the transformation of various LPSO structures and precipitation of diverse precipitates. All these evolutions exert great impacts on the mechanical properties of the LPSO-containing alloys. However, the underlying mechanisms still remain a subject of debate. Therefore, this review mainly provides the state of the art of the casting magnesium alloys research and the accompanying challenges and summarizes some topics that merit future investigation for developing high-performance Mg–RE–TM cast alloys.     

铸造3D喷墨打印砂型尺寸精度测量评定方法研究

随着铸造行业的转型发展,3D打印技术已经成熟的应用于制造铸造砂型,所制作的砂型不再单单作为铸造过程中的半成品,而是可以作为产品面向各铸造厂进行销售。但是目前对于砂型的检验标准存在缺失,对于砂型质量的把控和评定缺少依据。针对铸造砂型的尺寸精度,通过设计制作测量试块,给出了一种3D喷墨打印砂型的测量方法及评定标准,填补了目前铸造行业中这一领域在标准上的空白,对推动3D打印技术在铸造行业的应用以及砂型的产品化有着重要的意义。     

Complex concrete structures: Merging existing casting techniques with digital fabrication

Over the course of the 20th century, architectural construction has gone through intense innovation in its material, engineering and design, radically transforming the way buildings were and are conceived. Technological and industrial advances enabled and challenged architects, engineers and constructors to build increasingly complex architectural structures from concrete. Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques have, more recently, rejuvenated and increased the possibilities of realizing ever more complex geometries. Reinforced concrete is often chosen for such structures as almost any shape can be achieved when placed into a formwork. However, most complex forms generated with these digital design tools bear little relation to the default modes of production used in concrete construction today. A large gap has emerged between the possibilities offered by the digital technology in architectural design and the reality of the building industry, where actually no efficient solutions exist for the production of complex concrete structures. This paper presents construction methods that unfold their full potential by linking digital design, additive fabrication and material properties and hence allow accommodating the construction of complex concrete structures. The emphasis is set on the on-going research project Smart Dynamic Casting (SDC) where advanced material design and robotic fabrication are interconnected in the design and fabrication process of complex concrete structures. The proposed fabrication process is belonging to an emerging architectural phenomenon defined first as Digital Materiality by Gramazio & Kohler (2008) or more recently as Material Ecologies by Neri Oxman  [1].     

Reinforcement and toughening mechanisms in polymer nanocomposites – Carbon nanotubes and aluminum oxide

The addition of nanoparticles has been reported as an option to increase the fracture toughness of thermosetting polymers without compromising the stiffness. In this paper, alumina or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in three different concentrations, were dispersed in an epoxy resin. Mechanical properties were measured through tensile test and the results indicate increases for all nanocomposites, with a maximum for the addition of 0.5% of CNTs (17% in elastic modulus and 22% in ultimate stress). Using TEM images, it was possible to identify the nanostructures and mechanisms that lead to improved stiffness. Fracture toughness tests and SEM images showed that cavitation – shear yielding (for epoxy/alumina nanocomposites) and crack bridging – pull-out (for epoxy/CNTs nanocomposites) are the predominant mechanisms.     

Low Frequency Electromagnetic Casting of 2195 Aluminum-Lithium Alloy and Its Effects on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

In this study,the low frequency electromagnetic casting(LFEC) technology was adopted to fabricate 2195 Al-Li alloy.The microstructure and solid solubility of as-cast 2195 alloys,as well as the second phase precipitation and tensile properties after aging,were investiagated and compared with the counterpart direct chill casting 2195 alloy.Our results indicate that LFEC can significantly improve the microstructure and metallurgical quality of as-cast alloy,and increase the number density of θ'(Al_2 Cu) and T_1(Al_2 CuLi) phases during aging treatment due to the enhanced solubilities of alloying elements.The tensile properties of 2195 aged alloy cast by LFEC were hence improved evidently.     

Q345B连铸坯表面夹渣缺陷的形成原因及控制

描述了Q345B铸坯表面夹渣缺陷的宏观形貌,并通过扫描电镜及能谱仪对缺陷形貌进行观察和能谱分析。结果表明,缺陷内主要为氧化铁皮并含有保护渣成分。分析了铸坯表面夹渣缺陷的形成原因主要有以下4个方面:浸入式水口设计不合理引起的结晶器液面波动卷渣、结晶器内弯月面受冲击夹渣、保护渣成分不均匀引起的分熔现象及结晶器振动负滑脱时间长导致的下渣不均匀。并提出优化措施:1)优化浸入式水口的结构,将侧孔角度为25°减小至18°;2)改善结晶器流场,板间的氩气流量由原来的5 L/min减少至3 L/min以下,SEN的插入深度控制在90~130 mm;3)优化保护渣成分和性能,将保护渣熔点由原来的1 050℃提高至1 150℃,碱度大于1,黏度0.12~0.2 Pa·s,降低了保护渣的消耗;4)调整结晶器振动参数,使负滑脱时间由原来的0.207 s减至0.165 s。22炉的现场试验结果表明,优化后的工艺由于铸坯缺陷引起的中厚板表面裂纹发生率控制在1%以下,并实现了铸坯、中厚板表面质量的稳定控制。     

圆弧“U”形结构安装座铸造工艺改进

安装座为精铸件,其结构总体呈半圆弧形,一端为“U”形结构,该产品主要工艺难点为圆弧径向及“U”形结构开口端易变形,圆弧径向两端加工后易出现“黑皮”。通过工艺改进运用反变形工艺、工艺拉筋等工艺措施有效解决铸件变形问题,提高产品铸造工艺出品率。     

基于TRIZ的真空注型机改进设计

应用发明问题解决理论(TRIZ理论)的物质-场模型及冲突矩阵方法,分析制模硅胶脱气和树脂真空注型工艺过程,提出真空注型机关键工艺功能改进设计方案;开发了硅胶脱气自动除泡装置和真空注型多工位浇注系统。样机验证结果表明,改进设计的真空注型机功能设计合理有效,劳动强度明显降低,工作效率显著提高。     

Chitosan and cyanoguanidine-crosslinked chitosan coated glass beads and its application in fixed bed adsorption

Abstract

The aim of this work was to coat glass beads with chitosan and cyanoguanidine-crosslinked chitosan and, afterward, to verify the potential of the coated beads as adsorbent for the FD&C Red 40 dye in fixed bed column. The coating was realized in eight experimental conditions, varying the technique (dip coating or casting) and the coating solution composition (different proportions of chitosan, cyanoguanidine, glycerol, sorbitol, sodium alginate, NaOH and CaCl₂). The beads coated in the eight experimental conditions were then applied to adsorb FD&C Red 40 in a fixed bed column, from aqueous solutions at pH 3.0 and 6.0. The breakthrough curves were fitted according to Thomas and Yoon-Nelson dynamic models. The coating was dependent of the solution composition. The casting technique presented coating percentage values of 92%, while the dip coating technique presented only 43%. The breakthrough curves revealed that the use of glass beads coated with cyanoguanidine-crosslinked chitosan had good performance, attaining adsorption capacity values higher than 80?mg g^?1. Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were able to predict the breakthrough curves in all conditions.