Properties of the Ti<Subscript>40</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>10</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>36</Subscript>Pd<Subscript>14</Subscript> BMG Modified by Sn and Nb Additions

The results of investigation of the influence of additions of 2 and 3 at.% of Sn and simultaneously of Sn and 3 at.% Nb on microstructure and properties of the bulk metallic glasses of composition (Ti₄₀Cu_36?x Zr₁₀Pd₁₄Sn _x )_100?y Nb _y are reported. It was found that the additions of Sn increased the temperatures of glass transition (T _g), primary crystallization (T _x ), melting, and liquidus as well as supercooled liquid range (ΔT) and glass forming ability (GFA). The nanohardness and elastic modulus decreased in alloys with 2 and 3 at.% Sn additions, revealing similar values. The 3 at.% Nb addition to the Sn-containing amorphous phase decreased as well all the T _g, T _x , T _L, and T _m temperatures as ΔT and GFA; however, relatively larger values of this parameters in alloys containing larger Sn content were preserved. In difference to the previously published results, in the case of the amorphous alloys containing small Nb and Sn additions, a noticeable amount of the quenched-in crystalline phases was not confirmed, at least of the micrometric sizes. In the case of the alloys containing Sn or both Sn and Nb, two slightly different amorphous phase compositions were detected, suggesting separation in the liquid phase. Phase composition of the alloys determined after amorphous phase crystallization was similar for all compositions. The phases Cu₈Zr_3, CuTiZr, and Pd₃Zr were mainly identified in the proportions dependent on the alloy compositions.     

Structure,magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of nonstoichiometric TbCo<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ni<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> compounds

The structure and magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of new nonstoichiometric TbCo₂Ni _x compounds (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) have been studied. The alloys with х ≤ 0.1 have been shown to be single-phase with the MgCu₂-type structure; in alloys with х > 0.1, an additional phase with a PuNi₃-type structure has been formed. It has been found that the concentration dependences of the Curie temperature and magnetic moment of the 3d-metal sublattice have a maximum at x = 0.025. The magnetocaloric effect magnitude for the TbCo2Nix compounds has been estimated using the results of magnetic and heat-capacity measurements.     

Transport phenomena in the La<Subscript>0.72</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.28</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystal

Results of an experimental study of the temperature dependences of the magnetization M, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, thermo-and magnetothermo-emf, and Hall effect of the La_0.72Ba_0.28MnO₃ single crystal are presented. An analysis of the temperature dependences of kinetic properties shows that, at low temperatures, electrons are principal charge carriers in La_0.72Ba_0.28MnO₃ and the metallic conduction takes place. As the temperature increases to T ≈ 145 K, the sign of the ordinary Hall coefficient reverses; this indicates the change in the type of the majority charge carriers. Within a certain temperature range which lies substantially below the Curie temperature (T _C ), a metal-semiconductor transition occurs. Near the Curie temperature and within the paramagnetic range, the manganite under study is a semiconductor; the conduction is mainly effected by holes activated to the mobility edge. The critical behavior of the resistance and magnetoresistance is discussed.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of multi-principal component AlCoCrFeNiCu<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> alloy

By introducing Cu, AlCoCrFeNiCu _x (x values in molar ratio, x = 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5) alloys were designed and prepared. The effects of Cu on microstructure and properties of AlCoCrFeNi alloy were investigated. The introduction of Cu results in the formation of Cu-rich FCC solid solution phase when Cu content is low. There are two FCC solid solution phases, i.e., Cu-rich FCC solid solution phase and phase transformation-induced FCC solid solution phase, when the Cu content is more than 1.0. Both the yield stress and plastic strain of alloy show a turning point when the Cu content is 0.5. Among the seven alloys, Cu_0.5 alloy exhibits the largest yield stress of 1187 MPa and the lowest plastic strain of 16.01 %.     

Features of the thermal behavior of PMMA/C<Subscript>60</Subscript> film composites

Polymethylmethacrylate-based film composites containing small additives of fullerenes (up to 3 wt %) are obtained. The thermal behavior of the obtained materials is studied by DSC in the temperature range from 25 to 130°C. It is found that the character of the DSC curve depends on the composite composition. For films containing up to 0.1 wt % C₆₀, one glass transition temperature (T _g ^soft) is observed, while in the case of films with a higher concentration of the filler, two glass transition temperatures (T _g ^soft and T _g ^solid) are observed. It is found that the dependence of T _g ^soft value on the content of fullerenes is nonmonotonic with a minimum at 0.5 wt % of C60.     

Superconducting cellular MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A new composite superconducting material in the form of a cellular structure consisting of large Mg grains surrounded by thin MgB₂ layers has been prepared. The superconducting properties of such a cellular structure were found to depend on the thickness of the superconducting layer d _s. As d _s decreases from ～30 to 1 μm, the critical temperature decreases by more than 10 K. The derivative of the upper critical field with respect to the temperature (dH _c2/dT) near T _c increases from ～0.2 T/K at high d _s to ～0.35 T/K at d _s ～6 μm. The critical current density of the cellular samples calculated for the area of the superconductor section is above 10⁵ A/cm² (T = 4.2 K and H = 1 T).     

Microstructure and Room-Temperature Mechanical Properties of FeCrMoVTi<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> High-Entropy Alloys

FeCrMoVTi _x (x values represent the molar ratio, where x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0) high-entropy alloys were prepared by a vacuum arc melting method. The effects of Ti element on the microstructure and room-temperature mechanical properties of the as-cast FeCrMoVTi _x alloys were investigated. The results show that the prepared alloys exhibited typical dendritic microstructure and the size of the microstructure became fine with increasing Ti content. The FeCrMoV alloy exhibited a single body-centered cubic structure (BCC1) and the alloys prepared with Ti element exhibited BCC1 + BCC2 mixed structure. The new BCC2 phase is considered as (Fe, Ti)-rich phase and was distributed in the dendrite region. With the increase of Ti content, the volume fraction of the BCC2 phase increased and its shape changed from a long strip to a network. For the FeCrMoV alloy, the fracture strength, plastic strain, and hardness reached as high as 2231 MPa, 28.2%, and 720 HV, respectively. The maximum hardness of 887 HV was obtained in the FeCrMoVTi alloy. However, the fracture strength, yield stress, and plastic strain of the alloys decreased continuously as Ti content increased. In the room-temperature compressive test, the alloys showed typical brittle fracture characteristics.     

Effect of water intercalation on the structure and electrophysical properties of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6.9</Subscript>

The influence of water vapors and plastic deformation on the structure and electrophysical properties of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.9 (123) has been studied. It has been established that, at T = 200°C, the introduction of water into the structure of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.9 leads to its transition into a defect tetragonal phase of the 124 type as a result of the formation of planar stacking faults. After annealing at T = 930°C, these defects are partially retained and are efficient centers of pinning in the magnetic fields applied perpendicularly to the c axis, which makes it possible to increase (by an order of magnitude) the critical current density in the high-textured ceramics at 77 K in the external magnetic field of 5–10 T. The plastic deformation of the hydrated ceramics favors the reverse transition of the arising 124 phase to the 123 phase at T = 930°C and is accompanied by a recrystallization of the material, which leads to the appearance of a texture and an increase the critical current density.     

Alloying Behavior and Properties of FeSiBAlNiCo<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> High Entropy Alloys Fabricated by Mechanical Alloying and Spark Plasma Sintering

In this paper, FeSiBAlNiCo_x (x = 0.2, 0.8) high-entropy alloy (HEA) powders were fabricated by mechanical alloying process, and the powders milled for 140 h were sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The microstructures and properties of as-milled powders and as-sintered samples were investigated. The results reveal that the final milling products (140 h) of both sample powders present the fully amorphous structure. The increased Co contents obviously enhance the glass forming ability and thermal stability of amorphous HEA powders, which are reflected by the shorter formation time of fully amorphous phase and the higher onset crystallization temperature, respectively. According to coercivity, the as-milled FeSiBAlNiCo_x (x = 0.2, 0.8) powders (140 h) are the semi-hard magnetic materials. FeSiBAlNiCo_0.8 HEA powders possess the highest saturation magnetization and largest remanence ratio. The SPS-ed products of both bulk HEAs are composed of body-centered cubic solid solution, and FeSi and FeB intermetallic phases. They possess the high relative density above 97% and excellent microhardness exceeding 1150 HV. The as-sintered bulks undergo the remarkable increase in saturation magnetization compared with the as-milled state. The SPS-ed FeSiBAlNiCo_0.8 HEA exhibits the soft magnetic properties. The electrochemical corrosion test is carried out in 3.5% NaCl solution. The SPS-ed FeSiBAlNiCo_0.2 HEA reveals the better passivity with low passive current density, and the higher pitting resistance with wide passive region.     

Influence of High Pulsed Magnetic Field on the Dislocations and Mechanical Properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Al Composites

At T6 state, Al–Zn–Mg–Cu aluminum matrix composites reinforced with Al₂O₃ particles generated in situ were subjected to high pulsed magnetic fields at different magnetic induction intensities (B = 2, 3 and 4 T). The results show that the dislocation densities in the treated samples increased with increasing B, and the magnetoplastic effect was determined to be the primary cause. The effect of the magnetic field is believed to alter the spin state of free electrons between dislocations and obstacles from the singlet state (associated with high bonding energy) to the triplet state (low bonding energy). The maximum ultimate tensile strength of 532 MPa was obtained at B = 4 T with 30 pulses, which was 20.7% higher than that of the initial sample, primarily because of dislocation strengthening. At B = 2 T, the elongation was at its maximum of 9.3%, representing an increase of 12% compared with the initial sample, while the associated ultimate tensile strength (447 MPa) was still higher than that of the untreated sample (440 MPa). The relationship between mechanical properties and microstructure was analyzed, and the improved properties observed in this work are explained by the transition of the electron spin state and the piling up of dislocations.     

Changes in the temperatures of phase transformations of the Ni<Subscript>2</Subscript>MnGa alloy upon substitution of nickel for manganese

Temperatures of phase transformations of a number of Ni₂MnGa-based alloys (four compositions), which are characterized by substitution of nickel for manganese at an unchanged gallium content (25 at %), have been determined. As the nickel concentration increases with respect to the stoichiometric composition (or the electron concentration e/a increases), the liquidus (T _liq), solidus (T _sol), and martensitic transformation (T _mart) temperatures increase, whereas the magnetic transformation temperature (T _C) decreases slightly.     

Corrosion Behavior and Microhardness of Ni-P-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Nano-composite Coatings on Magnesium Alloy

In the present work, nano-composites of Ni-P-SiO₂-Al₂O₃ were coated on AZ91HP magnesium alloy. The surface morphology of the nano-composite coating was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The amount of SiO₂ in the coating was determined by energy-dispersive analysis of x-ray (EDX), and the crystalline structure of the coating was examined by x-ray diffractometer (XRD). All the experiments concerning the corrosion behavior of the coating carried out in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution and evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization technique. The results showed that an incorporation of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ in Ni-P coating at the SiO₂ concentration of 10 g/Land 14 g/LAl₂O₃ led to the lowest corrosion rate (i _corr = 1.3 µA/cm²), the most positive E _corr and maximum microhardness (496 VH). Furthermore, Ni-P-SiO₂-Al₂O₃ nano-composite coating possesses less porosity than that in Ni-P coating, resulting in improving corrosion resistance.     

Chromia Scale Thermally Grown on Pure Chromium Under Controlled <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>(O<Subscript>2</Subscript>) Atmosphere: I. Spallation Investigation Using Photoelectrochemical Techniques at a Mesoscale

Chromia scales isothermally grown on pure chromium at 900 °C and a p(O₂) of 10^?12 atm during 30 min exhibit n- and p-type conduction associated with a duplex morphology with an internal equiaxed subscale for an inward (anionic) growth and an external columnar subscale for an outward (cationic) growth. After oxidation exposure, spalled regions in the oxide scale can be observed and have been studied with photoelectrochemical techniques at a mesoscale (probe diameter in the range of 50 µm). Owing to the semiconducting properties of each subscale (bandgap and conduction type), a scenario of spallation is proposed and clarifies when and where the oxide scale spallation occurs.     

Effect of hydrogen intercalation on the critical parameters of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>

The effect of hydrogenation at T = 150 and 200°C on the electrophysical properties of highly textured YBa₂Cu₃O _y ceramics with different oxygen content has been investigated. Like hydration, hydrogenation results in the deterioration of these properties. However, in samples with high oxygen contents (y = 6.96) hydrogenated at T = 150°C after oxidation (400°C) or recovery annealing with subsequent oxidation, the critical current density and first critical field increase compared to the initial state. The improvement of the properties occurs mainly in a magnetic field applied perpendicularly to the c axis. As after hydration, this is connected with the formation of planar defects in the course of low-temperature annealing. In addition, in the process of the hydrogenation, the partial reduction of copper occurs with the formation of microinclusions of Cu₂O and other products of chemical decomposition, which are extra pinning centers of magnetic vortices.     

Phase Equilibria in the Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>–InSb System

The phase diagram of the (Sb₂Te₃)_100?x –InSb _x system was determined based on x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and microhardness and density measurements. An intermediate compound with composition Sb₂Te₃·2InSb was formed as a result of syntectic reaction, melting incongruently at 553 °C. This compound has tetragonal lattice with unit cell parameters of a = 4.3937 Å, b = 4.2035 Å, c = 3.5433 Å, α = 93.354°, and β = γ = 90°. Sb₂Te₃·(2 + δ)InSb (?1 ≤ δ ≤ +1) and (Sb₂Te₃)_100?x (InSb) _x (90 ≤ x ≤ 100) solid solutions exist in the investigated system, based on the intermediate compound Sb₂Te₃·2InSb and on InSb, respectively. Also, two invariant equilibria exist in the system, with eutectic point coordinates at compositions of x = 60 and x ≈ 85 mol% InSb and eutectic temperatures of T _E = 541 and T _E ≈ 501 °C, respectively.     

On the temperature behavior of a tensoresistive effect in the amorphous Fe<Subscript>80</Subscript>B<Subscript>14</Subscript> alloy

Investigation of the temperature behavior of the coefficient of tensoresistance π of the amorphous Fe₈₆B₁₄ alloy in a temperature range from room temperature to the crystallization temperature has been carried out. It has been revealed that below the Curie temperature T _C, in the interval of existence of elinvar properties, π in this alloy increases only weakly, with a temperature coefficient of 4 × 10^?4 K^?1. At T > T _C, a stronger temperature increase of π is observed. An analysis performed has shown that the most probable reason of the observed temperature changes in π was a temperature-induced change in Young’s modulus of the alloy. It has been shown that during crystallization the coefficient of tensoresistance π decreases with increasing amount of crystalline phases in the alloy.     

Specific features of magnetic order in a multiferroic compound CuCrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> determined using NMR and NQR data for <Superscript>63, 65</Superscript>Cu nuclei

Results of studying the paramagnetic and ordered phases of a CuCrO₂ single crystal using nuclear magnetic and nuclear quadrupole resonances on ^63,65Cu nuclei are presented. The measurements have been carried out in wide ranges of temperature (T = 4.2–300 K) and magnetic-field strength (Н = 0–94 kOe), with the magnetic fields being directed along a and c axes of the crystal. The components of the electric-field gradient tensor and the magnetic-shift tensor (K _a,c) have been determined. The temperature dependences K _a(H || a) and K _c(H || c) for the paramagnetic phase are described by the Curie–Weiss law and reproduce the behavior of the magnetic susceptibility (χ_a,c). The hyperfine field on a copper nucleus has been determined, which is equal to h _hf ^a,c = 33 kOe/μB. Below the temperature Т _N = 23.6 K, nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra for ^63,65Cu nuclei have been recorded typical of helical magnetic structures, which are incommensurable with the lattice period.     

Influence of water vapor on the formation of pinning centers in YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> upon low-temperature annealing

The influence of the double heat treatment (T = 300 and 930°С) on the critical parameters of highly textured YBa₂Cu₃O_6.96 and YBa₂Cu₃O_6.8 ceramics has been investigated. It has been shown that, upon low-temperature annealing in humid air, planar stacking faults are formed in these ceramics. These defects are partly retained after reduction annealing (at T = 930°С) and are efficient pinning centers in magnetic fields applied parallel and perpendicular to the c axis. Due to the absorption of water, the oxygen content is increased in the ceramics, which is accompanied by an increase in the critical temperature of superconducting transition up to 94 K for YBa₂Cu₃O_6.96 and up to 90 K for YBa₂Cu₃O_6.8. Optimal conditions of the double annealing have been established, after which the critical-current density increased to j _c ≥ 10⁴ А/сm² in an external magnetic field of up to 6 T. The low-temperature treatment in the neutral atmosphere saturated by water vapors deteriorates the current-carrying capacity of the highly textured ceramics, which is connected with the disappearance of texture due to the copper reduction and the precipitation of impurity phases.     

Microstructures,Martensitic Transformation,and Mechanical Behavior of Rapidly Solidified Ti-Ni-Hf and Ti-Ni-Si Shape Memory Alloys

In this work, the microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly solidified Ti_50?x/2Ni_50?x/2Hf _x (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 at.%) and Ti_50?y/2Ni_50?y/2Si _y (y = 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 at.%) shape memory alloys (SMAs) were investigated. The sequence of the phase formation and transformations in dependence on the chemical composition is established. Rapidly solidified Ti-Ni-Hf or Ti-Ni-Si SMAs are found to show relatively high yield strength and large ductility for specific Hf or Si concentrations, which is due to the gradual disappearance of the phase transformation from austenite to twinned martensite and the predominance of the phase transformation from twinned martensite to detwinned martensite during deformation as well as to the refinement of dendrites and the precipitation of brittle intermetallic compounds.