Influence of cooling rate on microstructure evolution and pitting corrosion resistance in the simulated heat-affected zone of 2304 duplex stainless steels

Pitting corrosion resistance of 2304 duplex stainless steel heat-affected zone with different cooling rates has been studied by potentiostatic critical pitting temperature (CPT) in 1.0 M NaCl. The results showed that, as cooling rate decreased from 100 to 10 °C/s in the temperature range of 1350–800 °C, the austenite fraction increased from 27.8% to 35.7%, and the CPT value increased from 14 to 19 °C. The morphologies after the CPT tests showed pitting occurred preferentially in the ferrite phase for all specimens. Moreover, relationship between pitting corrosion resistance and microstructure evolution was further discussed.     

EIS assessment of critical pitting temperature of 2205 duplex stainless steel in acidified ferric chloride solution

In this study, critical pitting temperature (CPT) of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS2205) was assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in ferric chloride solution. In order to verify the results other methods such as ASTM G 48, potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarisation and zero resistance ammeter (ZRA) were also employed. The results show a strong close relation between the results of this method by those of previous methods. CPT of the alloy is 40 °C based on standard method and 44 °C, 49 °C according to the ZRA and potentiostatic methods. Both potentiodynamic and EIS methods give an almost identical CPT value.     

Study of the correlation between pitting corrosion and the component ratio of the dual phase in duplex stainless steel welds

Three duplex stainless steel weldments were produced by changing the chromium element to study the correlation between the pitting corrosion characteristics and the component ratio of the dual phase. The pit morphologies showed that metastable pits were generated at a lower pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) phase. The secondary austenite phases seemed to serve as a path for the corrosive environment regardless of the ferrite number (FN). There is some discrepancy between the measured values (pitting potential (E_p) through polarization test) and expected values (sequence ranked by PREN of weaker phase) in 1 mol l⁻¹ NaCl solution at 60 °C.     

Microstructure of the cBN/WC6Co composite produced by the pulse plasma sintering (PPS) method

The cBN/WC6Co composite with the relative density of 99.8% and hardness of 2130 HV5 was produced by sintering at a temperature of 1150 °C under a pressure of 100 MPa for 5 min. The composite was sintered using electric pulses generated periodically by discharging a capacitor battery. The constituent phases of the composite, as identified by the NBED method, were the cBN, WC, and Co phases. The HR STEM observations have shown that the interfaces between the individual phases are continuous and no pores or precipitates of other phases can be seen there. Thanks to the specific heating realized by electric pulses, the composite is heated during each current pulse to a temperature of 1950 °C at a rate of 10⁵ °C/s. As a result of these quick changes of the temperature, transient thermal compressive stresses of about 3 GPa are induced in the composite, which results in the grains of the WC composite matrix being refined and defected.     

Distribution characterization of boundary misorientation angle of 7050 aluminum alloy after high-temperature compression

Compression tests of 7050 aluminum alloy have been conducted at different temperatures (340, 380, 420, and 460 °C) and different strain rates of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 s^?1. The microstructure characteristics of the alloy after deformation are investigated using OM, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique and TEM. Results show that the volume fraction of recrystallized grains and the average misorientation angle increase with the increase of deformation temperature with the strain rate of 0.1 s^?1. When the 7050 aluminum alloys were deformed at 460 °C, the volume fraction of recrystallized grains and average misorientation angle decrease with increasing strain rate. The primary softening mechanism of the 7050 aluminum alloy deformed at 340, 380, and 420 °C with the strain rate of 0.1 s^?1 is dynamic recovery. Dynamic recrystallization is the main softening mechanism of the alloy deformed at 460 °C and different strain rates. The softening mechanism of the alloy is not sensitive to strain rate.     

Effect of ultrasonic treatment on the Fe-intermetallic phases in ADC12 die cast alloy

The ultrasonic treatment temperatures were varied from about 100 °C above the liquidus temperature down to the Al–Si eutectic temperature, for different treatment times (0–15 s). The results showed that the ultrasonic melt treatment was very effective to convert the long plate-like Fe-intermetallic phases (up to 200 μm length) to a highly compacted fine polyhedral/globular form (<15 μm size). The critical ultrasonic treatment temperature to affect the morphology of Fe intermetallics was found to be in the range of 596–582 °C. The eutectic Si was mostly not affected by ultrasonic treatments carried out in this study (in the temperature range of 670–581 °C and for up to 10 s). It was also observed that the nucleation undercooling, which is a measure of nucleation efficiency, at the start of solidification was lowered from ～2.9 to ～0.4 °C by ultrasonic treatment. The variation of horn temperature within 20 °C above pouring temperature to 10 °C below it had no noticeable effect. The ultrasonically treated samples showed better tensile properties than the untreated samples, due to the change in morphology of the Fe-intermetallic particles.     

Formation of TiC via interface reaction between diamond grits and Sn-Ti alloys at relatively low temperatures

In this paper, interfacial reaction between diamond grit and Sn-6Ti alloy was systematically studied at brazing temperatures from 600 to 1030 °C. A thin and uniform layer of scallop-like nano-sized TiC grains was formed after brazing for 30 min at 600 °C, and interfacial TiC grains subsequently coarsened as brazing temperature increased to 740 and 880 °C. Strip-like columnar TiC grains in a bilayer structure was further grown as brazing temperature increased to 930 °C. After brazing at 1030 °C, a dense layer of columnar TiC grains were formed. Based on the TEM micrographs of interfacial TiC, the formation and evolution of the growth morphologies of interfacial TiC was believed to be controlled by the diffusion of C flux from diamond grits, which is dependent on the brazing temperatures.     

Effect of different cooling rates on thermomechanically processed high-strength rebar steel

The present article is dealing with 0.2% C, 0.1% V and 0.02% Nb steel. Billets with 130 mm × 130 mm cross-section were austenitized and hold at 1080 °C. The billets were hot rolled to 22 mm bar diameter. Hot rolling was finished at 980–1000 °C. The final bars were air-cooled. On a parallel way, an experimental hot deformation investigation, on the same steel, was carried out at deformation temperature range 1200–800 °C with the same amount of deformation (97% reduction in area). However, cooling regimes after deformation were air cooling, water quenching to 600 °C followed by air cooling, and water quenching to room temperature. Microstructure investigation was done using both optical and scanning electron microscopes. Further evaluation was done using mechanical testing. The industrial trial has unsatisfied results with poorer yield strength with higher ultimate strength. Bainitic aggregates are detected in the hard phases islands. Air cooling after pilot hot deformation creates banded ferrite–pearlite microstructure with 9.11 μm ferrite grains. However, quick water quenching to 600 °C followed by air cooling develops tempered and softened coarse bainite phase. On the other hand, water quenching to room temperature develops fine bainite texture. Water quenching to 600 °C followed by air cooling is the best regime creating accepted mechanical properties.     

Effect of alloyed molybdenum on corrosion behavior of plasma immersion nitrogen ion implanted austenitic stainless steel

Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) of nitrogen has been performed on two austenitic stainless steels (with and without Mo addition) at three different temperatures namely, 250, 380 and 500 °C for 3 h. Grazing angle X-ray diffraction (GXRD) was carried out on the surface of the steels (both PIII treated and untreated). GXRD results suggest that PIII is more effective in Mo containing stainless steel (SS). The electrochemical corrosion studies examined through both by DC polarization and EIS technique in 3.5 wt.% NaCl reveals that, 3 h N-implantation at 250 and 380 °C improves the corrosion and pitting resistance of both the austenitic stainless steels under investigation. The effect N implantation on pitting resistance is seen more in the presence of Mo, than when it is not present in the SS. It is further emphasized that the pitting resistance of the alloys significantly deteriorates, when they are implanted at 500 °C.     

Texture memory effect in heavily cold-rolled Ni3Al single crystals

In Ni₃Al the cold-rolled Goss texture changed to a complicated one after primary recrystallization and returned to the original Goss during the subsequent grain growth, which can be referred to as the texture memory effect. In this study, we examined the evolution of grain orientations during the grain growth using the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) method. It was found that just after the primary recrystallization most of the grains had a 40°〈1 1 1〉 rotation relationship to the Goss texture, the remaining grains being Goss and other textures. The formation of the 40°〈1 1 1〉 rotated grains can be explained by a multiple twinning mechanism. In the grain growth, the Goss grains, which were surrounded by the 40°〈1 1 1〉 rotated grains, grew preferentially due to the high mobility of the 40°〈1 1 1〉 grain boundaries, leading to the texture memory effect.     

Corrosion fatigue crack growth behavior of oil-grade nickel-base alloy 718. Part 1: Effect of corrosive environment

The effect of corrosive environment on corrosion fatigue crack growth (CFCG) behavior of oil-grade nickel-base alloy 718 is studied. The results demonstrate that there is no obvious effect of 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at RT, 50 °C and 80 °C on CGCG rates while 21 wt.% NaCl solution at 80 °C produces a deleterious effect on CFCG rates compared to the ones tested in air. Potentiodynamic polarization results show that alloy 718 exhibits passive behavior in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, while pitting corrosion resistance decreases with increasing solution temperature. Nevertheless, alloy 718 shows active corrosion behavior in 21 wt.% NaCl solution at 80 °C.     

Interface reaction systematics in the Cu/In–48Sn/Cu system bonded by diffusion soldering

An alternative lead-free solder alloy In–48 at%Sn with a melting point of 120 °C and its implementation to bond Cu substrates in a diffusion soldering joining method are presented. According to the EPMA, TEM/EDX and electron diffraction analyses, two different behaviors were observed in the interconnection zone depending on the temperature range: (i) a single layer consisting of η phase below 200 °C; (ii) a Cu-poor region consisting of η phase and a Cu-rich layer formed by a mixture of thin alternate regions of ζ-Cu₁₀Sn₃ and δ-Cu₇In₃ phases perpendicular to the interconnection plane above 200 °C. The η layer shows two morphologies: large grains and fine grains at the η/In–48Sn (liquid) and at the η/Cu-rich interfaces, respectively. Additionally, the η region shows a gradual change in composition, suggesting a change from the Cu₆Sn₅ to the Cu₂In structures. Thermal stability tests indicate that the thermal resistance of the bonds is about 750 °C.     

Effect of hydrogen on pitting susceptibility of 2507 duplex stainless steel

The effect of hydrogen on pitting corrosion susceptibility of duplex stainless steel was investigated. Pits are observed on the hydrogen-charged specimen after 6 days of immersion in 6% FeCl₃ solution, while no pits on the uncharged specimen even after more than 30 days of immersion, which indicates that hydrogen promotes pitting initiation and pit growth. Moreover, pitting susceptibility increases with hydrogen charging current density. The pitting tends to nucleate initially inside the austenite or at ferrite/austenite boundaries, and then appears in the ferrite, because of different behaviors of hydrogen in two phases, such as solubility and diffusivity of hydrogen.     

Anisothermal solid-state reactions of Ni/Al nanometric multilayers

The structural evolution of Ni/Al multilayer thin films with temperature was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thin films with nanometric Ni and Al alternated layers were deposited by d.c. magnetron sputtering. In our experiments, we used a bilayer thickness of 5, 14 and 30 nm and a total film thickness ranging from 2 to 2.7 μm. The XRD patterns of the as-deposited sample revealed only peaks of Al and Ni. DSC experiments were performed on freestanding films, from room temperature to 700 °C at 10 and 40 °C/min. Two exothermic reactions were detected in the DSC curves of the film with a 30 nm bilayer thickness, with peak temperatures at 230 and 330 °C. The films with 5 and 14 nm bilayer thickness presented only one exothermic peak at 190 and 250 °C, respectively. To identify the intermetallic reaction products, DSC samples were examined by XRD. NiAl formation corresponds to one single DSC peak, for films with short bilayer thicknesses (5 and 14 nm). The films with 30 nm bilayer thickness were heated at 250 °C (T = T_{1st peak}), 300 °C (T_{1st peak} < T < T_{2nd peak}), 450 °C (T > T_{2nd peak}) and 700 °C. The XRD results indicated that at 250 °C the phase formed was NiAl₃, whilst NiAl₃ and Ni₂Al₃ phases were identified at 300 °C. For the 450 °C sample, only NiAl was detected. Further heating to 700 °C promotes the growth of NiAl grains.     

Effect of vacuum annealing temperature on tribological behaviors of sintered polycrystalline diamond compact

The sintered polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) were annealed at 200 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C, and 800 °C under vacuum environment. The friction and wear behaviors of the annealed PDCs sliding against Si₃N₄ balls were evaluated by a ball-on-disc tribometer in ambient atmosphere. The compositions, microstructures and surface morphologies of PDC discs and wear scars on Si₃N₄ balls were characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the steady friction coefficient decreased at the annealing temperature of 200 °C and increased with annealing temperature increasing. While, the wear rate of PDCs and Si₃N₄ balls increased at 200 °C, and sharply decreased from 300 to 800 °C. The surface morphologies and Raman spectra revealed that the variation law of friction coefficient curves at different annealing temperatures was attributed to carbonaceous transfer films formed on Si₃N₄ balls. The residual stress on PDC surface was reduced after the annealing treatment, thus fine diamond grains were easily extracted from PDC surface onto the contact area during the tribotest which led to the wear of PDC and abrasive wear for both counter parts. These results revealed that the friction and wear behaviors of PDC were significantly affected by the vacuum annealing temperature.     

Corrosion properties of novel γ′–strengthened Co-base superalloys

Electrochemical properties of γ′-strengthened Co-base superalloys with the composition Co–Al–W–B and Co–Al–W–B–Y are studied in comparison with pure Co at ambient temperature in 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution (pH 5.8). The different materials exhibit comparable corrosion resistance with a limited initial passivation followed by severe pitting corrosion at higher potentials. Oxide layers, formed under isothermal oxidation at 800 and 900 °C, provide exceptional protection against pitting corrosion. No breakdown events are observed, even for thin layers formed during short-term oxidation (1 h at 900 °C). Si as alloying element further improves the corrosion behaviour of the oxidised alloy in NaCl.     

Influence of SPS parameters on the density and mechanical properties of sintered Ti3SiC2 powders

The densification of Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phase was performed by the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique. The SPS parameters, such as sintering temperature, pressure and soaking time, were optimized to obtain fully densified samples which were characterized to obtain the best mechanical properties. The sintering temperature was varied from 1070 to 1300 °C, the soaking time from 1 to 10 min and the applied pressure from 60 to 180 MPa. The best full densified samples were sintered at 1300 °C applying 60 MPa for 7 min. Ti_xC_y and TiSi₂ secondary phases were found in samples densified at 1200, 1250 and 1300 °C, due to decomposition of Ti₃SiC₂. These secondary phases, detected by XRD patterns, were confirmed by microhardness testing, FESEM observations and EDAX analyses.     

Evidence of variation in slip mode in a polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy with change in temperature from neutron diffraction strain measurements

The deformation mechanisms under tensile loading in a 45 vol.% γ′ polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy have been studied using neutron diffraction at 20 °C, 400 °C, 500 °C, 650 °C and 750 °C with the results interpreted via (self-consistent) polycrystal deformation modelling. The data demonstrate that such experiments are suited to detecting changes of the γ′ slip mode from {1 1 1} to {1 0 0} with increasing temperature. Between room temperature and 500 °C there is load transfer from γ′ to γ, indicating that γ′ is the softer phase. At higher temperatures, opposite load transfer is observed indicating that the γ matrix is softer. At 400 °C and 500 °C, an instantaneous yielding increment of about 2% was observed, after an initial strain of 1.5%. This instantaneous straining coincided with zero lattice misfit between γ and γ′ in the axial direction. Predicted and experimental results of the elastic strain response of the two phases and different grain families showed good agreement at elevated temperatures, while only qualitative agreement was found at 20 °C.     

Study of LiMgVO4 electrical conductivity mechanism

This paper deals with impedance spectroscopy on single-phase polycrystalline LiMgVO₄ in the temperature range of 25–500 °C. Thermogravimetric measurements show a weight loss of 2.7% in the temperature range between 25 °C and 175 °C due to humidity desorption. A conductivity mechanism along the grain boundaries (agb) is identified in the specific temperature range and is attributed to a reversible humidity absorption–desorption mechanism. Equivalent circuits are drawn using the results of the impedance measurements at each temperature. A unique conduction process within the material is assigned to each element of the equivalent circuit and Arrhenius plots are plotted. The calculation of activation energy of each conduction mechanism is based on the Arrhenius plots. The activation energy E_b of the bulk conductivity mechanism was found to be 0.62 eV. The activation energy E_gb of the grain boundaries conductivity mechanism was found to be 1.03 eV up to 275 °C and 0.50 eV in the temperature range of 300–500 °C. The absence of the conductivity mechanism along the grain boundaries above 175 °C can only be due to the complete removal of water from the material's grains.     

Ductilisation of tungsten (W): On the shift of the brittle-to-ductile transition (BDT) to lower temperatures through cold rolling

Here we show that cold rolling decreased the brittle-to-ductile transitions (BDT) temperature of tungsten (W). Furthermore, we show that the BDT temperature correlates with the grain size (the smaller the grain size, the lower the BDT temperature) following a Hall–Petch-like equation. This relation between the grain size and the BDT temperature is well known from ferrous materials and is generally accepted in the steel community.Our ductilisation approach is the modification of the microstructure through cold rolling. In this work, we assess three different microstructures obtained from (i) hot-rolled, (ii) cold-rolled, and (iii) hot-rolled and annealed (1 h/2000 °C, annealed in H₂) tungsten plates. From these plates, Charpy impact test samples with dimensions of 1 × 3 × 27 mm³, without notch, were cut and tested in the L-S and T-S directions. The results show the following BDT temperatures: 675 °C/948 K (L-S, “annealed”), 375 °C/648 K (L-S, “hot-rolled”) and 125 °C/398 K (L-S, “cold-rolled”). The microstructure of the plates is analysed by means of SEM (EBSD: grain size, subgrains, texture, KAM), FIB (channelling contrast) and TEM analyses (bright field imaging).The question of how cold rolling decreases the BDT temperature is discussed against the background of (i) microcracking, crack branching, and crack bridging effects; (ii) texture effects; (iii) the role of dislocations; and (iv) the impact of impurities, micropores, and sinter pores. Our results suggest that the availability of dislocation sources (dislocation boundaries, grain boundaries; in particular, IDBs and HAGBs) is the most important parameter responsible for the increase of the cleavage resistance stress, σ_F, or the decrease of the BDT temperature, respectively.