Structure and magnetic properties of a multi-principal element Ni–Fe–Cr–Co–Zn–Mn alloy

A nanocrystalline alloy with a nominal composition of Ni₂₀Fe₂₀Cr₂₀Co₂₀Zn₁₅Mn₅ was produced by mechanical alloying and processed using annealing treatments between 450 and 600 °C for lengths from 0.5 to 4 h. Analysis was conducted using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, magnetometry, and first-principles calculations. Despite designing the alloy using empirical high-entropy alloy guidelines, it was found to precipitate numerous phases after annealing. These precipitates included a magnetic phase, α-FeCo, which, after the optimal heat treatment conditions of 1 h at 500 °C, resulted in an alloy with reasonably good hard magnetic properties. The effect of annealing temperature and time on the microstructure and magnetic properties are discussed, as well as the likely mechanisms that cause the microstructure development.     

Deformation mechanism of the spray formed 70Si30Al alloy during hot compression

1. Introduction The novel spray formed 70Si30Al alloy devel-oped for electronic packaging application has excel-lent physical characteristics [1-5], which include low coefficient of thermal expansion (6.8 × 10?6 K?1) that matches with that of the chip (Si or GaAs), high thermal conductivity (120 W/m·k) that represents the efficient removal of heat, and low density (2.4 g/cm3) that satisfies the requirement of lightweight in aerospace equipment and locomotive calculator (or communication de…     

Structure–property relationship in mechanochemically prepared polyaniline

The comparative analysis of the physicochemical properties of polyaniline prepared in the conditions of solventless mechanochemical treatment in the ball mill (PAni|_mch) and polyaniline synthesized by the usual oxidative polymerization in the solvent (PAni|_c) is carried out. Conductivity of PAni|_mch substantially exceeds that of PAni|_c. As molecular weights of PAni|_mch and PAni|_c are comparable, the observed difference could be connected with the influence of mechanical stress which affects the polymer during its mechanochemical preparation. The increased conductivity of polyaniline obtained by post-synthesis mechanochemical treatment of PAni|_c (PAni|_mt) confirms such explanation. It could be concluded from the results of the structural investigations as well as of spectral and electrochemical studies that the shear stress which exerts influence on the polymer during mechanochemical synthesis or mechanochemical treatment leads to the increase of the interchain π–π interaction and, consequently, to the efficient improvement of conductivity.     

Effect of flame rectification on corrosion property of Al–Zn–Mg alloy

The corrosion resistance of Al–Zn–Mg alloy subjected to different times in flame rectification was investigated based on the exfoliation corrosion test. The results indicate that the flame rectification deteriorates the exfoliation corrosion resistance of Al–Zn–Mg alloy. The corrosion resistance of Al–Zn–Mg alloy is ranked in the following order: base metal>two times>three times>one time of flame rectification. The exfoliation corrosion behavior was discussed based on the transformation of precipitates at grain boundaries and matrix. With increasing the number of times in flame rectification, the precipitate-free zones disappeared and the precipitates experienced dissolution and re-precipitation. The sample was seriously corroded after one time of flame rectification, because the precipitates at grain boundaries are more continuous than those in other samples.     

Mesoscopic structure control of spray formed high strength Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys

Several high solute, high strength 7xxx series aluminum alloys with solute contents close to equilibrium solid solubility limits of the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu system have been produced by rapid solidification using spray deposition (the Osprey process). This process yields massive preforms directly from the liquid state by combining atomization and consolidation into one step. Various elements, including chromium, manganese and silver are incorporated to produce a variety of microstructures and mechanical properties. The zinc to magnesium ratio is also varied to see the effect on the strength. Superior strengths in excess of 849 MPa are achieved and are attributed to two major substructures with different scale; nanometer sized η′ metastable precipitates and slightly larger, but finely distributed dispersoids which provide a fiber-like reinforcement. The remarkable strengthening is predominantly attributed to precipitation hardening and a large coherency strain.     

Hydrogen absorption properties of a Zr–Al alloy ball-milled with Ni powder

The preparation of the Zr 84 wt%–Al 16 wt% non-evaporable getter alloy by means of mechanical alloying and its hydrogen absorption characteristics were investigated. Scanning electron micorscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that the mechanical ball-milling with Ni was successfully employed to coated nickel particles on the surfaces of the Zr–Al getter alloy. The resulting composite particles with pure nickel on the surface of the Zr–Al getter compound show good gettering performance and fast sorption kinetics without any activation process.     

Electrodeposition of Ni–Co alloy films onto titanium substrate

Binary bright Ni–Co alloy films were electrodeposited on titanium in the chloride–sulfate electrolytes.The influences of Co2?concentration, current density, and temperature on the Ni–Co alloy films electrodeposition were investigated. The films were analyzed by scanning electron microscope(SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS), and X-ray diffraction(XRD). Cathodic polarization for Ni–Co codeposition was performed on Ti working electrodes. With the increase of Co2?concentration, the Ni content in the films decreases and the current efficiency increases slightly. The Ni content increases with the increase of temperature, while it decreases with the increase of current density to a minimum and then increases. The cathodic reduction peak potential is measured to be-1.34 V. Anomalous deposition is found to occur in the Ni–Co codeposition. The SEM of Ni–Co alloy films shows that hydroxide particles are not present on the surface and fine grain, compact, smooth, and bright Ni–Co alloy films are obtained. The XRD result indicates that the deposited Ni–Co alloy film is Ni-solid solution with a facecentered cubic in structure.     

Research on flow stress of spray formed 70Si30Al alloy under hot compression deformation

1. Introduction New spray formed 70Si30Al alloy developed for electronic packaging application has excellent physical characteristics [1-5], which include low coefficiency of thermal expansion (6.8 × 10?6/K), high thermal conductivity (120 W/(m?K)), and low density (2.4 g/cm3), therefore, the exploitation and application of the alloy have an extensive prospect. To evaluate the deformation characteristics of spray formed 70Si30Al and to determine the appropriate hot deformation procedure of …     

The structure of ternary compounds in a devitrified Al-rich Al–Ni–Gd alloy

A high-resolution transmission electron microscopy study has been performed on the phases present in an Al–8 at.% Ni–7 at.% Gd alloy produced from amorphous gas-atomized powder precursors by hot compaction and extrusion. The alloy had a fine fully devitrified microstructure consisting of: α-Al, binary Al₃Gd, and two ternary phases; a rod-like τ₁ phase and a plate-like τ_m/τ_μ phase. Upon annealing the former coarsened whereas the latter was eliminated. It is shown that these phases exhibit the Al₁₉Ni₅Gd₃ and Al₂₃Ni₆Gd₄ crystal structures, respectively, and not those reported elsewhere for the τ₁ and τ_m/τ_μ phases.     

Significantly improved hydrogen desorption property of La2Mg17 alloy modified with Ni–Al nanocrystalline

A simple method was developed for improving the hydrogen storage properties through adding nano Ni–Al compounds using as a stable catalyst to the La₂Mg₁₇ alloys by a PVD method. With the trace addition of the catalyst, hydrogen absorption and desorption rate are all substantially improved for the La–Mg based alloys. The alloys formation process has been determined, and the activity energy of the hydride dehydrogenation reaction before and after Ni–Al nanocrystalline addition was also calculated.     

Microstructures variation of spray formed Si-30%Al alloy during densification process

Microstructure variation of spray-formed Si-30%Al alloy during densification process by hot pressing was studied. The results indicate that the microstructure of as-deposited preforms is fine and homogenous. The primary silicon phases distributing in aluminium matrix evenly are fine and irregular. Aluminium matrix is divided into two groups： supersaturated α-Al phase or α-Al phase and Al-Si pseudo-eutectic phase or Al-Si eutectic phase. During hot pressing, the primary silicon and the aluminium matrix realign as follows： the primary silicon fractures at a given compressive stress, the particles congregates in microzone with increasing stress, and the aluminium matrix flows and connects in harness. Al-Si pseudo-eutectic phase turns into Al-Si eutectic phase due to the diffusion of atoms during densification process.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of Al–Co–Cr–Cu–Fe–Ni high entropy alloy thin film growth

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to study AlCoCrCuFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA) thin film growth on a silicon (100) substrate. Effect of the atomic composition is studied on morphology and atomic scale structure. Input data are chosen to fit with experimental operating conditions of magnetron sputtering deposition process. It is observed that the different structures are determined by the chemical composition and atomic size mismatch. The simulated results are in good agreement with the solid-solution formation rules proposed by Zhang et al. [1] for multi-principal component HEAs which based on the two parameters δ and Ω, respectively describing describe the comprehensive effect of the atomic-size difference in the n-element alloy and the effects of enthalpy and entropy of mixing on formation of multi-component solid-solutions. When Ω ≥ 1.1 and δ ≤ 6.6%, the multi-component solid solution phase could form. In contrast, the multi-component alloys forming intermetallic compounds and bulk metallic glasses (BMG) have larger value of δ and smaller value of Ω. The value of Ω for BMG is smaller than that of intermetallic compounds.     

Friction welding of Al–Mg–Si alloy to Ni–Cr–Mo low alloy steel

Abstract

It is difficult to weld the dissimilar material combination of aluminium alloys and low alloy steels using fusion welding processes, on account of the formation of a brittle interlayer composed of intermetallic compound phases and the significant difference in physical and mechanical properties. In the present work an attempt has been made to join these materials via the friction welding method, i.e. one of the solid phase joining processes. In particular, the present paper describes the optimisation of friction welding parameters so that the intermetallic layer is narrow and joints of acceptable quality can be produced for a dissimilar joint between Al-Mg-Si alloy (AA6061) and Ni-Cr-Mo low alloy steel, using a design of experiment method. The effect of post-weld heat treatment on the tensile strength of the joints was then clarified. It was concluded that the friction time strongly affected the joint tensile strength, the latter decreasing rapidly with increasing friction time. The highest strength was achieved using the shortest friction time. The highest joint strength was greater than that of the AA6061 substrate in the as welded condition. This is due to the narrow width of the brittle intermetallic layer generated, which progressed from the peripheral (outer surface) region to the centreline region of the joint with increasing friction time. The joints in the as welded condition could be bent without cracking in a bend test. The joint tensile strength in the as welded condition was increased by heat treatment at 423 K (150° C), and then it decreased when the heat treatment temperature exceeded 423 K. All joints fractured in the AA6061 substrate adjacent to the interface except for the joints heated at 773 K (500° C). The joints fractured at the interface because of the occurrence of a brittle intermetallic compound phase.     

Hydrogen sorption properties of a Mg–Y–Ti alloy

The catalytic effect of titanium on the hydrogen sorption properties of a Mg–Y–Ti alloy has been investigated. The alloy is formed by a majority phase Mg_24+xY₅, a minor phase of solid solution of Y in Mg and Ti clusters randomly dispersed in the sample. During the first hydrogen absorption cycle 5.6 wt.% hydrogen was absorbed at temperatures above 613 K. The alloy decomposed almost completely to MgH₂ and YH₃. After hydrogen desorption pure Mg and YH₂ were formed. For further absorption/desorption cycles the material had a reversible hydrogen capacity of 4.8 wt.%. The MgH₂ decomposition enthalpy was determined to ?68 kJ/mol H₂, and the calculated activation energy of hydrogen desorption of MgH₂ was 150(±10) kJ/mol.     

Electrochemical synthesis of a biomedically important Co–Cr alloy

Co–30 wt.% Cr alloy was prepared by electro-deoxidation in molten calcium chloride at 1123 K. A preliminary study was conducted into the preparation of the mixture of the Co₃O₄ and Cr₂O₃ and the formation of the non-stoichiometric, spinel structured, mixed oxide nominally labeled Co_xCr_yO₄. Constant voltage chronoamperometry was used both to prepare the alloy and to investigate its mechanism of formation. Electro-deoxidation proceeds by the simultaneous rapid reduction of CoO to Co and the slower reduction/substitution of Co_xCr_yO₄ to CaCr₂O₄ and Co metal. The final step of the electro-deoxidation is the reduction of CaCr₂O₄ to Cr metal, which alloys with the Co metal, and release of Ca²⁺ back into the electrolyte.     

Effect of Ni/Fe ratio of electrolyte salts on the magnetic property of electrodeposited Fe–Ni alloy

Electrodeposition of Fe–Ni thin films has been carried out on a copper substrate from simple as well as complex baths containing sulfate salts with Ni/Fe ratio of 1 : 1 and 12 : 1. Complex baths consistedeither all of ascorbic acid, citric acid and saccharine in addition to the salts viz. NiSO₄ · 7H₂O; FeSO₄ · 7H₂O; H₃BO₃ and Na₂SO₄ in simple bath. The chemical composition of the deposit was determined by an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer. Magnetic properties of the Fe–Ni films were measured by avibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The X-ray diffraction was done on the electrodeposited thin films to determine Fe–Ni alloy phases. Magnetic properties of films were studied before and after heat treatment of the samples. It is found that the saturation magnetization decreases with increasing Ni content in the films obtained from simple baths with low Ni/Fe ratio (1 : 1) while the saturation magnetization increases with increasing Ni content obtained from complex bath with high Ni/Fe ratio (12 : 1). Among different baths with high Ni/Fe ratio of 12 : 1, the saturation magnetization of deposited film is higher deposited from a bath containing three complexing agents, namely, ascorbic acid, citric acid and saccharine than from a bath containing a single complexing agent–ascorbic acid. The ideal nature of the M _s–H (saturation magnetization vs. applied field) curve was obtained from complex baths with a high Ni/Fe ratio (12 : 1).     

Amorphous phase formation in a Ni−Zr−Al−Y alloy system

Quaternary Ni-based amorphous alloys containing only metallic elements were developed through systematic alloy design. The importance of the phase equilibria information for the development of amorphous alloys was demonstrated through experimental results. Ni−Zr−Al ternary alloys having low liquidus temperature tend to have high GFA. Partial replacements of Zr with Y in the ternary alloys significantly enhanced the GFA of the quaternary alloys. The alloy Ni₆₀Zr₂₅Al₈Y₇ could be cast into a fully amorphous rod through an injection casting method. Since most Ni-based amorphous alloys reported to date contain non-metallic elements, the Ni-based amorphous alloys developed in the alloy system Ni−Zr−Al−Y are of interest.