Comparative study for physical properties and corrosion mechanism of synthetic and in situ MgAl2O4 spinel formation zero cement refractory castables

Abstract

Magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl₂O₄) is an excellent castable refractory product due to its high temperature thermal, chemical and mechanical properties. Alumina spinel castables are produced by addition of synthetic spinel or in situ spinel formation during the firing process. In the first part of the experimental studies, alumina rich MgAl₂O₄ spinel castable was produced using a solid state reaction technique. Tabular alumina and sea water magnesia (<100 μm) were used as starting raw materials. In the second part of the experimental studies, commercial synthetic spinel added castables were produced. In order to compare experimental results, both parts of the experimental study involved compositions with the same proportions of MgO. α-500 hydratable alumina was used as binder. Castables were sintered at 1500 and 1600°C. Water absorption, apparent porosity, bulk density and cold crushing strength values were considered and the optimum sintering temperature, proportions of synthetic spinel and sea water magnesia were determined. The XRD patterns confirm the phase formation of MgAl₂O₄. Moreover, the physical properties of the castables were supported by this XRD analysis. Scanning electron microscopy investigations of the fired samples were carried out to compare the effect of synthetic spinel addition and in situ phase formation on the physical properties of the castables. The mechanism of slag penetration to two types of zero cement castables for steel ladles was examined and the penetration layer chemically analysed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis studies.     

Optimised running system design for bottom filled aluminium alloy 2L99 investment castings

Abstract

This research has evaluated the effect of surface turbulence introduced during the filling of moulds on the reliability of Al-7Si-Mg alloy (2L99)investment castings. Four different running systems were designed to provide different amounts of surface turbulence: top filled, uncontrolled bottom filled, and controlled bottom filled with and without a filter. Computer modelling has been used to simulate the filling of the different designs and the results have been compared with the actual flow behaviour established using real time X-ray radiography. Castings have been produced using the different running systems, tested in four point bending, and the results analysed using the Weibull statistical technique. It has been shown that top filling produces significant turbulence, which results in the least reliable castings (Weibull modulus of 25.5). There was no significant difference between this and the Weibull modulus of 27 found for uncontrolled bottom filled systems. This indicates that a poorly controlled bottom filled system is no better than a top filled system. Both were inferior to the controlled bottom filled systems without and with filters, which had Weibull moduli of 38 and 54 respectively. SEM examination and oxygen analysis of representative fracture surfaces has provided supporting evidence for the important role that oxide films played in reducing properties.     

Distribution Around the Oxide-Substrate Interface of Alloying Elements in Low-Carbon Steel

In order to study the physicochemical evolutionduring oxidation of Fe-C-X_i alloyssurfaces (X_i = Cu, Ni, Al, Si, S, withX_i% < 0.5 wt.%, C% < 0.1 wt.%), anoriginal analysis method has been used. After separating the oxide from the metalsubstrate, the first atomic layers of both innersurfaces have been observed by Auger ElectronSpectroscopy (AES). The depth profiles obtained, around0.4 m thick on both sides of the oxide-metal interface,have been compared for four steels of differentcomposition. Significant differences have been observedand described in this paper. A qualitativeinterpretation of diffusion processes has been proposed. Ametallographic study illustrates some physicalconsequences of alloying elements, especially on thescale thickness.     

Melting and solidification of TiNi alloys by cold crucible levitation method and evaluation of their characteristics

Abstract

The addition of Re, Fe and Cr into Ti–50 mol.-%Ni has been carried out to improve the oxidation and mechanical properties. The mono phase consisting of TiNi with the B2 type structure was identified in micro-alloyed materials proposed on the basis of the d-electrons concept. Experimentally, TiNi alloys were melted and solidified by the cold crucible levitation melting (CCLM) method. The TiNi–(Cr, Fe, Re) alloys with high purity and without contamination from a crucible were prepared, and the homogeneous microstructure was achieved by the diffusion mixing effect of CCLM even in the as-cast alloys which contained Re and Cr with higher melting temperatures and different specific gravities. The transformation from austenite to martensite phases occurred in all alloys below or above room temperature. Some alloys had the ability of shape memory even at room temperature. Ternary alloys showed a higher flow stress level compared with the binary TiNi alloy. On the other hand, the oxidation at 1273 K was promoted by the formation of titanium oxides (TiO₂) on the alloy surfaces. The oxidation resistance was improved by the formation of the continuous Cr₂O₃ film in TiNi–Cr alloys. The alloying effects by ternary elements (Re, Fe, Cr) in the intermetallic TiNi as well as metallic materials were explained well using two parameters used in the d-electrons concept.     

Measurement of Plasma Density in Brass Arc Plasma at Atmospheric Pressure Using a Langmuir Single Probe

In this work, we construct electrodes of brass to produce plasma by arc discharge and is characterized by using a movableLangmuir single probe. It is a simple w...     

Validation of three-dimensional finite element model for electron beam welding of Inconel 718

Abstract

A three-dimensional finite element model for the prediction of the distortion and residual stresses induced during electron beam welding is described. The model is validated by butt welding experiments on two Inconel 718 plates. A particular effort is made to determine a good model for the heat input. A combined conical and double ellipsoid heat source is used to model the deep penetration characteristic of the electron beam and this source is calibrated using the results from a separate thermodynamic simulation, using the ELSIM finite difference code. Parallel computation is used to reduce the overall simulation time in the coupled thermomechanical simulation of welding. The agreement between calculations and experiments is good with respect to the residual stresses. Measured and computed deformations agree qualitatively although they differ in magnitude.     

Coupled effect of heat input and beam oscillation on mechanical properties of alloy 718 electron beam weldments

Abstract

Autogenous full penetration electron beam welds were made on alloy 718 with and without beam oscillation technique. Weldments were subjected to two types of post-weld heat treatments: direct aging (DA) and solution treatment at 980°C followed by aging (STA). When the welds were prepared using different heat inputs in the welding processes with and without beam oscillation, the influence of beam oscillation could not be studied in isolation but the coupled effect of heat input and beam oscillation was studied. Laves particles were finer in size and lower in amount in unoscillated welds compared with those in beam oscillated welds subjected to DA condition. δ phase needles were observed around Laves particles in the welds subjected to STA condition. The amount of Laves particles was less and that of δ phase was more in unoscillated welds compared with those in beam oscillated welds subjected to STA condition. Unoscillated weldments exhibited longer fatigue lives compared with beam oscillated weldments in both DA and STA conditions owing to less amount of Laves in the former. Weldments in STA condition had longer lives compared with those in DA condition. The role of δ phase needles in fatigue life could not be identified.