Phase decomposition in extruded Zn-Al based alloy

Ageing characteristics of an extruded eutectoid Zn-Al based alloy were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The extruded alloy consisted of Al rich phase and Zn rich _E and phases. The original cast eutectoid Zn-Al alloy was extruded at 250 °C. Both supersaturated _s and _s phase decomposed during extrusion and appeared as fine and coarse lamellar structures. The _E and phases particles formed in the original interdendritic region. It was found that two Zn rich phases _E and decomposed sequentially during ageing at 170, 140 °C. The decomposition of the _E phase occurred as a discontinuous precipitation in the early stage of ageing and the decomposition of the phase took place in a four phase transformation: + T + in the prolonged ageing. Two typical morphologies of the decomposition of the Zn rich phases _E and were distinctive in back-scattered scanning electron microscopy.     

Microdeformation in partially compatible blends of poly(styrene-acrylonitrile) and polycarbonate

Dilute 3-component 1-phase solutions in methylene chloride of poly(styrene-acrylonitrile) PSAN and polycarbonate PC are used to cast phase separated thin films. Films of pure PSAN, pure PC and five intermediate compositions are examined. The films are bonded to copper grids and strained at a constant rate of 4.1 × 10^–6sec^–1. The median tensile strain _v for void formation is determined using an optical microscope and the regions surrounding the voids are examined by TEM. At room temperature and slow strain rates both PSAN and PC plastically deform by shear yielding. For pure PSAN _v was found to be 0.13 whereas for PC _v exceeds 0.23. The addition of the more ductile polymer PC to PSAN at weight fractionsx forx 0.4 decreases _v. In this case voids form in crazes at the boundaries between the PC-rich inclusion and the PSAN-rich matrix. When the PC content is increased tox = 0.8, _v approaches 0.23. The effect of physical ageing (annealing belowT _g the glass transition temperature) on the mode of plastic deformation was also examined over the same compositional range. Physical ageing was found to suppress shear deformation and favour crazing in PSAN and PSAN-rich phases. Because crazes are more susceptible to breakdown than DZ's (shear deformation zones), physical ageing results in a marked decrease in _v. The breakdown statistics of these phase separated partially compatible blends was found to follow a Weibull distribution in strain from which two parameters may be extracted: the Weibull modulus and _w the Weibull scale parameter. is a measure of the breadth of distribution of void initiation and _w is a measure of the median strain to void formation in the films. The behaviour of _w was found to approximately mirror _v. The Weibull modulus appears to be primarily controlled by the matrix phase.     

Ageing characteristics of cast Zn-Al based alloy (ZnAl7Cu3)

Microstructure and ageing characteristics of a cast Zn-Al based alloy (ZnAl7Cu3) were studied using X-ray diffraction, electron scanning microscopy and back-scattered diffraction techniques. Two stages of phase transformation, i.e., decomposition of zinc rich phase and four phase transformation, + T + , were detected during ageing at 150°C. Electron back-scattered diffraction technique was applied in distinguishing both zinc rich and phases.     

Specific analysis of EBSD data to study the texture inheritance due to the β → α phase transformation

A specific processing of EBSD data is proposed to study the texture inheritance of titanium or zirconium alloys. A non standard misorientation map is calculated to localise the colonies inherited from the same parent grain. The calculation of the parent orientation from its inherited variants detailed in previous works has been adapted to the data obtained from an automated EBSD analysis. Finally, a method to derive the orientation map of the parent phase from that of the inherited phase is proposed. The resulting and COMs are used to study some aspects of the variant selection occurring in the transformation of a T40 sample.     

Retention of a metastable bcc ε-Pu solid solution: ε-Pu(Ti)

A metastable -Pu (bcc) solid solution has been retained to room temperature by rapid quenching of Pu-rich Pu-Ti alloys from the liquid state. Until now, -Pu solid solutions were limited to high temperatures and had not been successfully quenched to room temperature without transformation. The apparatus used to quench the specimens was a modified gun-type splat-cooling unit, capable of producing extremely high cooling rates of from 10⁶ to 10⁸ ° C sec^–1. -Pu(Ti) was retained in the composition region from 20 to more than 45 at.% Ti, and extrapolation of the lattice parameter/composition curve yielded a value of a ₀ = 3.53₀ Å for -Pu at 20° C. This modification differs from the -Pu modification derived by extrapolating from high temperature to 20° C by a small valence increase of 0.1. Metastable -Pu (Ti) (fcc) solid solutions were also quenched-in with alloys containing lesser amounts of Ti, and evidence was found to indicate that the was probably a product of -Pu(Ti) solid-state decomposition.     

Complex microstructural changes in as-cast eutectoid Zn-Al alloy

Phase transformations and microstructural changes of an as-cast eutectoid Zn-Al alloy (ZnAl₂₂Cu₂) were investigated during isothermal holding. The typical dendritic structures consisted of _s phase as a core with the edge of decomposed _s phase and decomposed _s in the interdendritic regions. A series of complex phase transformations was observed. Both decompositions of _s and _s were determined at an early stage of ageing and a four-phase transformation, _f+T+, was observed at the boundaries of _f phase and the phase, instead of clearly observed at the boundaries of phase, in a solution-treated Zn-Al alloy during prolonged ageing.     

A note on the similarity solutions for free convection on a vertical plate

Summary The similarity solutions for free convection on a vertical plate when the (non-dimensional) plate temperature is x and when the (non-dimensional) surface heat flux is –x are considered. Solutions valid for 1 and 1 are obtained. Further, for the first problem it is shown that there is a value ₀, dependent on the Prandtl number, such that solutions of the similarity equations are possible only for >₀, and for the second problem that solutions are possible only for >–1 (for all Prandtl numbers). In both cases the solutions becomes singular as ₀ and as –1, and the natures of these singularities are discussed.     

Carbothermal production of β′-sialon from alumina,silica and carbon mixture

Mixtures of pure nanometer-sized amorphous silica and -alumina with the atomic ratio SiAl=1 were reduced by a stoichiometric amount of carbon between 1100 and 1450 °C in flowing nitrogen in order to produce -sialon powder. Using aqueous suspensions of starting materials, compacts with different microstructures were prepared for reaction. Silica reduction to SiO occurred at a temperature as low as 1300 °C and part of it was removed with flowing nitrogen. Carbothermal reaction involving nitrogen stated at 1350 °C and Si₂N₂O was found as an intermediate together with SiC, resulting in -sialon formation. Loss of silica from the system led to AlN formation. Decomposition of -sialon into sialon polytypoids (15R, 12H) was observed as a result of sialon and AlN reaction at 1450 °C. The reaction rate of sialon formation was slowed down compared to the carbothermal reduction of kaolin because of the lack of impurities. The microstructure of the reacted pellets influenced the reaction products, and the narrow pore size distribution as well as good homogeneity enhanced -sialon formation.On leave, from Silesian Technical University, Krasiskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, Poland.     

Structure and properties of injection-moulded nylon-6

The microstructure and morphology of injection-moulded nylon-6 has been studied using wide-angle and small-angle X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and a density measurement technique. A non-spherulitic surface layer consisting of a metastable pseudohexagonal phase surrounds the moulding and the thickness of the layer is sensitive to mould temperature. This outer structure gives way to a monoclinic phase containing spherulites between 3 and 6 m diameter. The central core of the moulding consists almost entirely of the phase with spherulites 6 m diameter, approximately. Exposure of nylon-6 to boiling water had no significant effect on the morphology of the moulding but the phase in the surface layer was transformed to the monoclinic phase.     

Heat transfer and critical heat fluxes in the boiling of aqueous solutions of polyethylene oxide at reduced pressures under natural-convection conditions

Experimental data are presented on heat transfer and critical heat fluxes in the boiling of aqueous solutions of polyethylene oxide of different concentrations under conditions of natural convection at atmospheric and reduced temperatures.Notation q heat flux - q_cr critical heat flux - q_cr.s critical heat flux during boiling under subheating conditions - T overheating of heating surface relative to-saturation temperature - T_S subheating of liquid core to the saturation temperature - heat-transfer coefficient - P pressure - , densities of the liquid and vapor - c_p isobaric specific heat of water - r heat of vaporization Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 24–28, July, 1984.     

A transmission-electron-microscopy study of a face-centred-cubic phase in an Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy

Icosahedral T₂ phases can form either by solid-state precipitation or during solidification in Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloys. The T₂ phase forming during solidification can transform to an R phase at high annealing temperatures. The T₂ phase forming by solid-state precipitation coexists with the Y phase, which has a face-centred cubic (f.c.c.) structure with lattice parameter a2.0 nm and can form microtwins with the twin plane of (111). The orientation relationships between the C phase and the T₂ phase are: i¯5Y0 1 1, Y1 1 3; i¯3Y1 1 1, Y1 2 3, Y1 1 5; Y2 3 5; i2Y0 1 1, Y1 1 1, Y1 1 2, Y1 1 3, Y1 1 5.     

Heat transfer in plane film formation

A mathematical model is obtained for the process of cooling with formation of a planar film. The solution obtained is verified experimentally.Notation mean axial velocity gradient - v_x current axial velocity - v_o initial polymer velocity - v₁ sampling velocity - K draw ratio - deformation rate tensor - x, y, z spatial coordinates - X, Y dimensionless coordinates - L() differential operator - T temperature - T_o initial temperature - T_c temperature of surrounding medium - dimensionless temperature - dimensionless temperature averaged over film thickness - thermal-diffusivity coefficient - 2_o initial film thickness - thermal conductivity - heat-transfer coefficient - f(X) distance function - Bi Biot criterion, Bi_o, Biot criterion calculated for initial film thickness - Gz* modified Graetz criterion - V dimensionless velocity - ₁, ₂, ₃ heat-transfer coefficients produced by radiation, free convection, and forced convection - v_c, _c mean velocity and film half-thickness in formation zone - T₁ calculated temperature value - T₂ experimental temperature value - l formation zone length Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 854–858, November, 1979.     

Varistor characteristics in PTCR-type (Ba,Sr)TiO3 ceramics prepared by single-step firing in air

This paper deals with donor, acceptor-codoped (Ba_0.4Sr_.6)TiO₃ ceramics with distinct varistor characteristics at room temperature, which were prepared by single-step firing in air. The materials, with the Curie point at around –90 °C, exhibited a large PTCR (positive temperature coefficient of resistivity) effect of more than seven orders of magnitude in the temperature range –90 °C (the resistivity 10³ · cm) to room temperature ( > 10¹⁰ · cm). An apparent dielectric constant of >20000 and tan < 0.05 (at 100 kHz) were observed for the present materials at room temperature, and moreover, the materials exhibited nonlinear current-voltage characteristics with the nonlinear coefficient, , in the range 7–12 and the varistor field, E_v, in the range 0.3–1.0 kV/cm. The value of in the present materials increased systematically with increasing in their PTCR temperature range. It has been found that there exists a close correlation between and the grain-boundary potential barrier height, e, obtained from the -T characteristic of the materials. An almost linear relationship was also found to exist between and log E_v for the present materials.     

Universality and the scaling laws in the superfluid phase transition of3He-4He mixtures

From the second-sound velocityU ₂ near the superfluid transition point, the superfluid densities in³He-⁴He mixtures, _s (X) and _s (), were deduced along the paths of constant³He concentrationX and of constant chemical potential difference of³He and⁴He. The following critical exponents of _s are determined: (a) =XX for _s (X) in the(X, T) plane,(b) X for _s (X) in the(, T) plane, and(c) for _s () in the(, T) plane. It is found that and _X change by about 4–6% relative to with increasing³He concentration up toX=0.4 and by 8–10% up toX=0.53. It seems that, belowX=0.53, universality hold for . Values of have been found to be in good agreement with the critical exponent of _s in pure⁴He under constant pressure. The values of and _X forX0.53 are also found to be consistent with the scaling relations in the (,T) plane of³He-⁴He mixture.Work performed in part while at the Electrotechnical Laboratory.     

Microstructural refinement of β-sintered and Ti-6Al-4V porous-coated by temporary alloying with hydrogen

A series of thermochemical treatments, in which hydrogen was used as a temporary alloying element to refine the lamellar microstructure of -sintered and porous-coated Ti-6Al-4V was formulated. Each step of the treatment sequence (hydrogenation, eutectoid decomposition and dehydrogenation) was studied separately, on uncoated specimens and then on porous-coated specimens. The resultant microstructures can have -grain sizes less than 1 m, aspect ratios near unity and discontinuous grain boundary (GB), microstructural attributes which increase the fatigue strength. Microstructural refinement occurs because hydrogen-alloying reduces the (+) transition temperature and enables a eutectoid decomposition reaction to occur. The optimal hydrogenation temperature is 850 °C, because hydrogen concentrations of 0.71 to 0.85 wt% are in-diffused and -transformation is achieved. These weight percentages are in the optimal range for efficient eutectoid decomposition kinetics, -transformation obviates the need for a separate -transformation treatment step. A separate eutectoid decomposition treatment step may be used, or eutectoid decomposition may be combined with dehydrogenation. The finest eutectoid microstructures are obtained if hydrogen concentrations are in the range 0.5 to 0.8 wt%. The criteria for dehydrogenation are efficient removal of hydrogen, with minimal grain growth and absence of GB. These criteria are best met by using dehydrogenation temperatures <700 °C. Altering the sintering temperature or adding a porous coating does not affect the parameters of the hydrogen-alloying treatment steps.     

Theory of periodically driven,current-carrying,superconducting filaments. I. Spatially homogeneous states

Starting from the nonequilibrium theory of dirty superconductors in the Ginzburg-Landau regime, spatially homogeneous states with an applied currentI=I ₀+I ₁ cos (t) are considered. Expressions for the linear response (I₁ small) valid up to high frequencies (k _BT_c) are derived and evaluated analytically for the experimentally important case of smallI ₀ and ₀(T). Then the nonlinear response is treated for frequencies with _E1. Interesting new behavior is found for frequencies ₀ 1, where ₀ is essentially the GL relaxation time.     

Shear viscosity of liquid4He and3He-4He mixtures,especially near the superfluid transition

High-resolution measurements of are reported for liquid⁴He and³He-⁴He mixtures at saturated vapor pressures between 1.2 and 4.2 K with particular emphasis on the superfluid transition. Here is the mass density, the shear viscosity, and in the superfluid phase both and are the contributions from the normal component of the fluid ( _n and _n ). The experiments were performed with a torsional oscillator operating at 151 Hz. The mole fraction X of³He in the mixtures ranged from 0.03 to 0.65. New data for the total density and data for _n by various authors led to the calculation of . For⁴He, the results for are compared with published ones, both in the normal and superfluid phases, and also with predictions in the normal phase both over a broad range and close to T. The behavior of and of in mixtures if presented. The sloped/dT near T and its change at the superfluid transition are found to decrease with increasing³He concentration. Measurements at one temperature of versus pressure indicate a decreasing dependence of on molar volume asX(³He) increases. Comparison of at T, the minimum of _n in the superfluid phase and the temperature of this minimum is made with previous measurements. Thermal conductivity measurements in the mixtures, carried out simultaneously with those of , revealed no difference in the recorded superfluid transition, contrary to earlier work. In the appendices, we present data from new measurements of the total density for the same mixtures used in viscosity experiments. Furthermore, we discuss the data for _n determined for⁴He and for³He-⁴He mixtures, and which are used in the analysis of the data.     

Ageing characteristics of dendritic and non-dendritic (stir-cast) Zn-Al alloy (ZA-27)

The dimensional changes of dendritic and non-dendritic (stir-cast) Zn-Al alloy (ZA-27) were investigated during ageing at temperatures in the range 20–245 °C. The linear expansion of both dendritic and non-dendritic samples increased rapidly with ageing time after about 24 h at 95 °C. An initial normalization treatment led to a large initial growth of the alloy which increased further after prolonged ageing times ( 10⁴h). Accelerated ageing tests in the range 75–250 °C showed that increasing the ageing temperature decreased the long term linear expansion of the alloy. In comparing the behaviour of the two materials, the stir-cast material grew less than the dendritic alloy. Extensive SEM and TEM done on as-stir-cast and aged samples showed that the main changes during ageing occurred in the (FCC) lamellae of the +(Zn) eutectoid, the phase at the primary _particles/_eutectoid interface and in the interparticle areas. In the lamellae and at the interface, zinc precipitated whilst the phase precipitated in the interparticle areas. It is considered that the occurrence of this latter phase, rich in copper, is responsible for the growth of stir-cast material during ageing.     

Precipitation hardening of cast SiCp reinforced Mg-6Zn

Age hardening behaviour of 20 vol % SiC particulate reinforced Mg-6Zn has been studied using hardness, eddy current and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The results show that the precipitation processes in this composite, although accelerated, are similar to those in the unreinforced Mg-Zn alloys; i.e., supersaturated solid solution GP zones Kinetic analyses of the former indicate that above 423 K, bulk diffusion of Zn controls precipitation, whereas, below 423 K precipitate formation is associated with vacancy migration.     

Nonlinear asymptotic theory of hypersonic flow past a circular cone

Summary The hypersonic small-disturbance theory is reexamined in this study. A systematic and rigorous approach is proposed to obtain the nonlinear asymptotic equation from the Taylor-Maccoll equation for hypersonic flow past a circular cone. Using this approach, consideration is made of a general asymptotic expansion of the unified supersonic-hypersonic similarity parameter together with the stretched coordinate. Moreover, the successive approximate solutions of the nonlinear hypersonic smalldisturbance equation are solved by iteration. Both of these approximations provide a closed-form solution, which is suitable for the analysis of various related flow problems. Besides the velocity components, the shock location and other thermodynamic properties are presented. Comparisons are also made of the zeroth-order with first-order approximations for shock location and pressure coefficient on the cone surface, respectively. The latter (including the nonlinear effects) demonstrates better correlation with exact solution than the zeroth-order approximation. This approach offers further insight into the fundamental features of hypersonic small-disturbance theory.Notation a speed of sound - H unified supersonic-hypersonic similarity parameter, - K hypersonic similarity parameter, M - M freestream Mach number - P pressure - T temperature - S entropy - u, v radial, polar velocities - V freestream velocity - shock angle - cone angle - density - density ratio, /() - ratio of specific heats - polar angle - stretched polar angle, / - (), (), () gage functions