Effect of microwave sintering on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA7075/B4C/ZrC hybrid nano composite fabricated by powder metallurgy techniques

AA7075 + 6%B4C+3%ZrC nano hybrid composite was successfully fabricated, with nano reinforcements composition in AA7075 alloy selected based on previous investigation, to achieve better mechanical performance. Two different sintering techniques, namely conventional and microwave, were implemented to determine the effect on microstructural and mechanical properties. Microstructural investigation was performed with the help of W-SEM. Tensile, compression, and hardness were measured with the help of UTM and Vickers microhardness machine. Porosity was calculated by using Archimedes principle. It was observed that the added nano ZrC particles formed agglomerates and the B₄C particles were distributed homogenously. Composites processed by microwave sintering showed excellent mechanical properties compared to the conventionally sintered composites. No intermetallic compounds were detected in microwave sintered composites through XRD analysis, indicating strong and clean interface bonds between matrix and reinforcement particles. High strain to fracture value of 12.24% was noted in microwave sintered nano hybrid composite, while it was 6.12% for conventional sintered one. Fractography revealed no peeling action of reinforcements from the matrix material, and the mode of failure was brittle. It was concluded that, while fabricating nano range hybrid composites, the implementation of advanced sintering technique (microwave sintering) with low sintering temperatures and low sintering times with internal heat generations, helps in eliminating defects that may develop because of high surface energies of nano range reinforcements.     

Application of artificial neural network method to predict the breakage properties of PGE bearing chromite ore

In the present investigation, systematic grinding experiments were conducted in a laboratory ball mill to determine the breakage properties of low-grade PGE bearing chromite ore. The population balance modeling technique was used to study the breakage parameters such as primary breakage distribution (B_{i, j}) and the specific rates of breakage (S_i). The breakage and selection function values were determined for six feed sizes. The results stated that the breakage follows the first-order grinding kinetics for all the feed sizes. It was observed that the coarser feed sizes exhibit higher selection function values than the finer feed size. Further, an artificial neural network was used to predict breakage characteristics of low-grade PGE bearing chromite ore. The predicted results obtained from the neural network modeling were close to the experimental results with a correlation of determination R² = 0.99 for both product size and selection function.     

Hydrogen desorption from alloys Mg–Cu(–KCl): Cu catalysis in detail

Effect of chemical composition of Mg-xCu based alloys (x = 9.94–58.00 wt %) modified by KCl upon their hydrogen storage performance was studied. Kinetic curves and pressure-concentration isotherms were measured in the ranges up to 60 bar and 388 °C, respectively. It was observed that desorption rate dc/dt is not significantly influenced by the composition. Unknown Cu-rich phase was detected that has shown a catalytic effect on desorption from a mixture with other phases. Activation energy of hydrogen desorption decreased with increasing x from 180 kJ/mol down to 98 kJ/mol. Average hydride dissociation enthalpy, ΔH, for the lowest plateau was 75 kJ/mol which is equal to literature value for pure Mg. Slightly lover average value, 67 kJ/mol was obtained for the second plateau and ΔH for the third one decreased from 70 kJ/mol for the lowest to 49 kJ/mol for the highest x.     

High temperature tensile properties of 316LN stainless steel investigated using automated ball indentation technique

Type 316LN stainless steel (SS) is the principal structural material for the components of sodium cooled fast reactors operating under elevated temperature conditions. In order to assess the degradation in strength of service exposed components using a small specimen testing technique such as automated ball indentation (ABI), it is necessary to carry out prior detailed ABI studies on the virgin material. In this investigation, the tensile behaviour of as-received 316LN SS were investigated at several temperatures in the range 298–973 K using ABI technique. The load-depth of indentation data measured from ABI tests was analyzed using semi-empirical relationships to obtain the tensile properties. The yield stress and the flow curves were determined by correlating ABI results with corresponding uniaxial tensile test results. Trend curve for tensile strength with temperature, as estimated from ABI tests, exhibited a plateau region in the temperature around 823 K, similar to uniaxial tensile tests. The variations of strength coefficient, strain hardening exponent, yield ratio, hardness and uniform ductility with temperature were evaluated from ABI tests. The ABI technique was found to estimate the influence of temperature on tensile properties sensitively.     

交变拉伸载荷下油管丝扣密封性能研究

针对高压注入井油管在服役环境下长期承受交变拉伸载荷作用存在泄漏风险的问题，通过搭建交变拉伸载荷下油管丝扣密封性能测试试验平台、优选试验设备及制定合理的试验步骤，对平扣、BGT扣、FOX扣油管试样在10~50 t拉伸交变载荷下的密封性能进行了模拟。模拟结果显示:对3种扣型油管试样施加同等拉伸载荷，其密封性能随交变次数增加而降低，降低幅度为平扣>BGT扣>FOX扣；50 t拉伸载荷施加5次后，3种扣型油管试样的密封性能分别为5.67 MPa、32.69 MPa、73.67 MPa。研究表明，平扣无法满足注入井的密封要求，BGT扣及FOX扣具有较好的适用性。研究结果为注入井油管扣型选择提供了依据。     

Improved ball milling method for the synthesis of nanocrystalline TiFe compound ready to absorb hydrogen

In this study, we propose a method to produce nanocrystalline TiFe powder by high-energy ball milling, in order to avoid the common sticking problem of the material to the milling tools, assuring a material prompt to absorb hydrogen as well. The method consists of making a preliminary milling operation with the elemental powders (50:50 stoichiometric ratio) to form a strong adhered layer of the milled material on the surfaces of the vial and balls. The main milling operation is then performed with a new powder charge (same composition as before), but now adding a process control agent (stearic acid). Various processing times - 2, 6, 10 and 20 h - were used in the milling experiments. Nanocrystalline TiFe was synthesized in this way with low oxygen contamination, full yields for milling times of 6 h or over, requiring no heat treatments for the first hydrogen absorption. Hydrogen storage capacity of 1.0 wt% at room temperature under 20 bar was attained by the sample milled for 6 h. Kinetic data from samples milled for 2 h and 6 h agreed with Jander model for the rate limiting step of the hydriding reaction, which is based on diffusion with constant interface area.     

A two-stage vision-based method for measuring the key parameters of ball screws

Ball screws are crucial for improving the reliability and interchangeability of transmission mechanical systems; however, existing contact measurement methods that utilise stylus contact are not efficient, which precludes their use for rapid in-situ geometry evaluation. This paper presents a vision-based two-stage method for rapid measurement of key parameters (raceway arc radii and centre distance) of ball screws. The edge contour information is extracted from the acquired image using the dual-tree complex wavelet transform and non-maximal suppression. In the matching stage, a shape-matching algorithm is used for detecting approximate geometrical centres of raceway arcs. The refinement stage, on the other hand, is implemented for acquiring precise dimensional results. Furthermore, the method of averaging multiple measurements is performed to suppress random noise. A comparative experiment is presented to validate the robustness of the proposed method. Based on experimental results, the calculated mean absolute errors in the measurement of the two raceway arc radii and the centre distance are found to be 0.0082 mm, 0.0079 mm and 0.0055 mm, respectively. This study therefore paves the way for key parameter measurement without removing ball screws.     

Microstructures and mechanical properties of B4C-TiB2-SiC composites fabricated by ball milling and hot pressing

B₄C-TiB₂-SiC composites were fabricated via hot pressing using ball milled B₄C, TiB₂, and SiC powder mixtures as the starting materials. The impact of ball milling on the densification behaviors, mechanical properties, and microstructures of the ceramic composites were investigated. The results showed that the refinement of the powder mixtures and the removal of the oxide impurities played an important role in the improvement of densification and properties. Moreover, the formation of the liquid phases during the sintering was deemed beneficial for densification. The typical values of relative density, hardness, bending strength, and fracture toughness of the composites reached 99.20%, 32.84?GPa, 858?MPa and 8.21?MPa?m^1/2, respectively. Crack deflection, crack bridging, crack branching, and microcracking were considered to be the potential toughening mechanisms in the composites. Furthermore, numerous nano-sized intergranular/intragranular phases and twin structures were observed in the B₄C-TiB₂-SiC composite.     

One-step scalable preparation of graphene nanosheets and high-thermal-conductivity flexible graphene films

It is well known that graphene nanosheets (GNSs) have many excellent properties. However, it has been a difficult thing to exfoliate graphite into GNSs in a controllable and scalable manner. In this research, a new strategy named xylitol-assisted ball milling exfoliation (XABME) was developed for the scalable preparation of GNSs. The experimental results characterized by a series of measurements showed that GNSs were successfully exfoliated by the XABME strategy. The structure of the prepared nanosheets was featured by large lateral size and ultra-small thickness. Furthermore, the prepared GNSs easily achieved high production yield (≈54%). Lastly, the as-obtained GNSs and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were compounded to form some nanomaterial films. The prepared films exhibited excellent flexibility and higher thermal conductivity, with the in-plane thermal conductivity of 90 wt% GNS film (8.0 W/(m·K)) being 11.4 times higher than that of the film without GNSs. This shows that GNSs could effectively enhance the thermal conductivity of the CNF matrix and indicate that these prepared films have great potentials in the thermal management of portable mobile devices.     

Gas hydrogen absorption and electrochemical properties of Mg24Ni10Cu2 alloys improved by Y substitution,ball milling and Ni addition

Mg₂₄Ni₁₀Cu₂ and Mg₂₂Y₂Ni₁₀Cu₂ alloys were prepared via vacuum induction melting, and the nanocrystalline/amorphous Mg₂₄Ni₁₀Cu₂ and Mg₂₄Ni₁₀Cu₂ + 100 wt% Ni alloys were synthesized through ball milling method. Microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of the alloys were investigated and compared as well. The results suggest that adding Ni in the milling process significantly promotes formation of amorphous and nanocrystalline structure. For these four alloys, the as-milled Mg₂₄Ni₁₀Cu₂ with 100 wt% Ni shows the best hydrogen storage performances that 2.03 wt% hydrogen content can be absorbed just in 1 min, and the electrochemical capacity reaches to 899.2 mAh/g. Furthermore, ball milling with Ni promotes the charge transfer reaction and hydrogen diffusion ability which is advantageous to the high rate discharge ability.