EXAFS Studies on Local Atomic Structure in the Amorphous Mg_(65)Cu_(25)Gd_(10) Alloy

Local atomic structures of an amorphous Mg65Cu25Gd10 alloy and the structural changes by thermal annealing have been studied by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The correlation between structural changes and mechanical properties for the Mg65Cu25Gd10 alloy has also been discussed. Results showed that Cu atoms around Gd in Mg65Cu25Gd10 lost rapidly during annealing , resulting in the segregation of Cu atoms. The coordination number NGd-Mg of Mg65Cu25Gd10 annealed at 373 K first diminished and then augmented with the increase of annealing time. The formation of polyhedral short-range order unit with coordination number of nearly 12 around Gd atoms is in favor of the improvement of mechanical properties. The chemical short-range order, not topological short-range order in the amorphous Mg65Cu25Gd10 alloy had obvious changes during annealing.     

Microstructural characterizations and mechanical properties of Mg-8Sn-1Al-1Zn-xCu alloys

Microstructural characterization and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-8Sn-1Al-1Zn-xCu（x=0wt%, 1wt%, 1.5wt% and 2.0wt%） alloys were studied by OM, Pandat software, XRD, SEM, DSC and a standard universal testing machine. The experimental results indicate that adding Cu to TAZ811 alloy leads to the formation of the AlMgCu and Cu3 Sn phases. Tensile tests indicate that yield strength increases fi rstly and then decreases with increasing Cu content. The alloy with the addition of 1.5wt% Cu exhibits optimal mechanical properties among the studied alloys. The improved mechanical properties can be ascribed to the second phase strengthening and fi ne-grain strengthening mechanisms resulting from the more dispersed second phases and smaller grain size, respectively. The decrease in ultimate tensile strength and elongation of TAZ811-2.0wt% Cu alloy at room temperature is ascribed to the formation of continuous AlMgCu and coarse Mg2 Sn phases in the liquid state.     

Electrodeposition of aluminium and aluminium-copper alloys from a room temperature ionic liquid electrolyte containing aluminium chlo- ride and triethylamine hydrochloride

The electrodeposition of A1 and A1-Cu binary alloys on to gold substrates from a room temperature ionic liquid electrolyte containing A1C13-EtaNHC1 was studied. The electrochemical behavior of the electrolyte and the mechanism of deposition were investigated through cyclic voltammetry （CV）, and the properties of deposits obtained were assessed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （SEM-EDS） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. A1 of 70μm in thickness and an A1-Cu alloy of 30μm in thickness with 8at% copper were deposited from the electrolyte. SEM images of the deposits indicate that the A1 deposit was smooth and uniform, whereas the Al-Cu deposit was nodular. The average crystalline size, as determined by XRD patterns, was found to be （30±5） and （29±5） nm, respectively, for A1 and A1-Cu alloys. Potentiodynamic polarization （Tafel plots） and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic （EIS） measurements showed that Al-Cu alloys are more corrosion resistant than Al.     

Effect of Samarium (Sm) Addition on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-5Cu Alloys

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of samarium addition on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Al-5Cu alloys. The microstructures were examined by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy diffraction spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis. It was found that Sm was capable significantly of affecting the microstructures of Al-5Cu alloys. When 0.4 wt% Sm was added into the alloy, the aspect ratio and the mean area of Al_2Cu phase were 10.9 and 61.0 μm2. They were decreased by 31.5% and 43.3% when compared with unmodified alloy. Meanwhile, a kind of nano size strengthening Al2 Sm phase was formed in Al-5Cu alloys. In addition, the differential thermal analysis results showed that Sm addition results in a decrease in the melting temperature of α-Al and Al_2Cu. And a good combination of yield strength(244.5 MPa), ultimate tensile strength(269.4 MPa) and elongation(6.9%) was obtained when the Sm addition was 0.4 wt%. Compared with unmodified Al-5Cu alloys, they were increased by 37.6%, 35.2% and 21.1%, respectively.     

Influence of Aluminum Ions Implantation on Corrosion Behavior of Zircaloy-2 Alloy in 1M H2SO4

The specimens were implanted with aluminum ions with fluence ranging from 1× 10^16 to 1× 10^17 ions/cm^2 to study the effect of aluminum ion implantation on the aqueous corrosion behavior of zircaloy-2 by metal vapor vacuum arc source （MEVVA） at an extraction voltage of 40 kV. The valence states and depth distributions of elements in the surface layer of the samples were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and Auger electron spectroscopy （AES）, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） was used to examine the microstructure of the aluminum-implanted samples. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction （GAXRD） was employed to examine the phase transformation due to the aluminum ion implantation. The potentiodynamic polarization technique was employed to evaluate the aqueous corrosion resistance of implanted zircaloy-2 in a 1 M H2SO4 solution. It is found that a significant improvement was achieved in the aqueous corrosion resistance of zircaloy-2 implanted with aluminum ions. Finally, the mechanism of the corrosion behavior of aluminum- implanted zircaloy-2 was discussed.     

Adsorption isotherm and inhibition effect of a synthesized di-(m-Formylphenol)-1,2-cyclohexandiimine on corrosion of steel X52 in HCl solution

The potential of di-(m-Formylphenol)-1,2-cyclohexandiimine as an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor for steel was investigated in 1 mol/L HCl using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry measurements. All electrochemical measurements suggest that this compound is an excellent corrosion inhibitor for mild steel and the inhibition efficiency increases with the increase in inhibitor concentration. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of mild steel with the addition of the Schiff base was studied in the temperature range from 25 °C to 65 °C. It is found that the adsorption of this inhibitor follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The value of activation energy and the thermodynamic parameters such as ΔHads, ΔSads, Kads and ΔGads were calculated by the corrosion currents at different temperatures using the adsorption isotherm. The morphology of mild steel surface in the absence and presence of inhibitor was examined by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) images.     

Corrosion of carbon steel under epoxy-varnish coating studied by scanning Kelvin probe

The corrosion behavior of partly coated carbon steel was investigated by salt spray test and scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) in order to understand the long-term corrosion behavior of coated carbon steel in marine atmosphere environment. The localized corrosion was accurately characterized by SKP in both coated and uncoated regions. The SKP results showed that Volta potential varied with the test time, and the more the corrosion products, the more positive the potential. The borderline between coated and uncoated regions of partly coated steel shifted towards the coated side with the increasing of test time. The coating disbonding rate could be determined according to the shift of potential borderline measured by SKP. The corrosion mechanism of partly coated steel in NaCl salt spray was discussed according to the potential maps and corrosion morphologies.     

Effects of Rare Earth Pr/Ce on Tribological Behavior of ADC12 Alloy

The microstructure and microhardness of ADC12 alloy that was mixed with 0,0.3,0.6,and 0.9 wt.% rare earth praseodymium/cerium (Pr/Ce) were studied.The addition of Pr/Ce improved the microhardness of the alloys.The ADC12+0.6 wt% Pr/Ce alloy displayed the smallest grain size and maximal microhardness.The tribological behavior of the alloys was tested by the pin-on-disc dry sliding friction pair with a sliding velocity of 0.21 m/s under various loads (20,40,60,80 N).The wear morphology was observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the wear mechanism was discussed.The result indicated that the wear resistance of ADC12+0.6 wt% Pr/Ce alloy was the most optimal.The wear rate relative to the matrix is reduced by 67.5% under a load of 20 N.The wear mechanism is adhesive wear.     

Corrosion detection of tinplate cans containing coffee using EIS/EN sensor简

The corrosion behavior of tinplate cans containing coffee was investigated using novel electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） and electrochemical noise （EN） sensors. The contents of iron and tin dissolved in cans were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer （ICP-MS）, and the morphology of corroded surface was observed by optical microscopy and scanning probe microscopy （SPM）. The results reveal that the coating resistance, charge transfer resistance and noise resistance decrease with the prolongation of storage time. The iron and tin contents in cans increase with the storage time, while the bump height of coating surface increases from 30 nm to 80 nm during the corrosion of twelve months. The existence of deformation would enhance the corrosion process of tinplate cans. Finally, the corrosion mechanism of tinplate cans in coffee was proposed.     

Microstructural evolution of Al-8.59Zn-2.00Mg-2.44Cu during homogenization

The microstructural evolution and phase transformations of a high-alloyed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy （Al-8.59Zn-2.00Mg-2.44Cu,wt%） during homogenization were investigated. The results show that the as-cast microstructure mainly contains dendritic α（Al）, non-equilibrium eutectics （α（Al） ＋ Mg（Zn,Al,Cu）2）, and the θ （Al2Cu） phase. Neither the T （Al2Mg3Zn3） phase nor the S （Al2CuMg） phase was found in the as-cast alloy. The calculated phase components according to the Scheil model are in agreement with experimental results. During homogenization at 460℃, all of the θ phase and most of the Mg（Zn,Al,Cu）2 phase were dissolved, whereas a portion of the Mg（Zn,Al,Cu）2 phase was transformed into the S phase. The type and amount of residual phases remaining after homogenization at 460℃ for 168 h and by a two-step homogenization process conducted at 460℃ for 24 h and 475℃ for 24 h （460℃/24 h ＋ 475℃/24 h） are in good accord with the calculated phase diagrams. It is concluded that the Al-8.59Zn-2.00Mg-2.44Cu alloy can be homogenized adequately under the 460℃/24 h ＋ 475℃/24 h treatment.     

Anticorrosion performance of the coating/metal system by electrochemical impedance spectra

In order to investigate the anticorrosion performance of the organic coating/metal system, electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) were measured in the 3.5wt% NaCl solution, the chemical component and the formation of corrosion products scale were analyzed by laser Raman microspectroscopy, and the pattern of the organic coating/metal system was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characteristics and the delamination process of the organic coating/metal system were investigated systematically, and the emphases were on the transportation of the corrosive medium and the changes of the coating/metal interface. The results show that the impedance decreases at the initial immersion, then increases at the middle-immersion, and again decreases at last, which is related to the corrosion products scale. The concentration of Cl- in the coating, which destroys the corrosion products scale, increases with the immersion time.     

Electrochemical corrosion behavior of arc sprayed Zn and Zn15Al coatings in simulated salina soil and neutral meadow soil solutions

Arc sprayed Zn and Zn15Al coatings were chosen to protect the metal ends of prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC) pipe piles against corrosion of salina soil in northern china and neutral meadow soil in northeast China. The corrosion behavior of the coated Q235 steel samples in two simulated soil solutions were investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. The experimental results show that the corrosion of the matrix Q235 steel in both simulated solutions is remarkably inhibited by Zn and Zn15Al coatings. The corrosion products on Zn and Zn15Al are thick, compact, firm and protective. The corrosion current density icorr of both Zn and Zn15Al-coated samples is decreased evidently with corrosion time, and the charge transfer resistance Rct is increased greatly. The corrosion resistance indexes of Zn and Zn15Al in simulated neutral meadow soil solution are more outstanding than those in salina soil. The corrosion resistance of Zn15Al in salina soil is slightly superior to that of Zn. When the sprayed coatings are sealed with epoxy resin, the corrosion resistance of the coatings is further enhanced markedly.     

Corrosion Performance of Zinc and Zinc-cobalt Alloy Compositionally Modulated Multilayer （CMM） Coatings

Varieties of zinc and Zn-Co alloy compositionally modulated multilayer （CMM） coatings were electrodeposited onto steel substrates using dual bath technique. The surface and cross-sectional morphologies of coated samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy （ SEM ）. The existence of iuternal stress in ZnCo alloy deposits was confirmed by the cross-sectional morphalogies for the occurrence of micro-cracks in the thick Zn-Co alloy deposit alone. The corrosion performance was evaluated using neutral salt spray testing, corrosion potential measurement and anodic polarization methods. The experimental results slum, that the zinc and Zn- Co alloy CMM coatings were more corrosion-resistant than the monolithic coatings of zinc or Zn-Co alloy alone with a similar thickness. The analysis on the micrographic features of zinc and Zn-Co alloy CMM coatings, using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy （FEGSEM） after corrosion testing, explains the probable reusons why the Zn-Co/ Zn CMM coating system has a better protective performance.     

Oxidation behavior of niobized TiAl by plasma surface alloying

Plasma surface alloying of element Nb in TiAl-based alloys and the oxidation behavior were studied. The composition and microstructure of the surface alloyed layers were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy （SEM）,energy dispersive X-ray analysis （EDX）,and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The experimental results indicate that the diffusion layers are formed on the TiAl substrate during the plasma niobizing process. The result from oxidation resistance investigation shows that plasma niobizing greatly improves the oxidation resistance of TiAl compared with the untreated TiAl. The role of element Nb for improving the oxidation resistance is considered to be achieved by strengthening the activity of Al,which is induced by the plasma niobizing process.     

Effect of anions on stress corrosion cracking behaviors of ultra-high strength steel 23Co14Ni12Cr3Mo

The effects of chloride, sulfate and carbonate anions on stress corrosion behaviors of ultra-high strength steel 23Co14Ni12Cr3Mo were studied by stress corrosion cracking （SCC） test method using double cantilever beam （DCB） specimens. The SCC morphology was observed by using scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and the composition of corrosion products was analyzed by using energy dispersive spectrometer （EDS）. The results show that the crack propagates to bifurcation in NaCl and Na2SO4 solution, while the crack in Na2CO3 solution propagates along the load direction. The SCC rate in NaCl solution is the highest, while lower in Na2SO4 solution and little in Na2CO3 solution. From the SEM morphologies, quasi-cleavage fracture was observed in NaCl and Na2SO4 solutions, but intergranular features in Na2CO3 solution. The mechanism of anion effect on SCC of steel 23Co14Ni12Cr3Mo was studied by using full immersion test and electrochemical measurements.     

Corrosion behavior of ferritic stainless steel with 15wt% chromium for the automobile exhaust system

The effect of chloride ion concentration, pH value, and grain size on the pitting corrosion resistance of a new ferritic stainless steel with 15wt% Cr was investigated using the anodic polarization method. The semiconducting properties of passive films with different chloride ion concentrations were performed using capacitance measurement and Mott-Schottky analysis methods. The aging precipitation and intergranular corrosion behavior were evaluated at 400- 900℃. It is found that the pitting potential decreases when the grain size increases. With the increase in chloride ion concentration, the doping density and the flat-bland potential increase but the thickness of the space charge layer decreases. The pitting corrosion resistance increases rapidly with the decrease in pH value. Precipitants is identified as Nb（C,N） and NbC, rather than Cr-carbide. The intergranular corrosion is attributed to the synergistic effects of Nb（C,N） and NbC precipitates and Cr segregation adjacent to the precipitates.     

Electrical Breakdown Characteristic of Nanostructured W-Cu Contacts Materials

Nanostructured （ NS ）W-Cu composite powder was prepared by mechanical alloying （ MA ）, and nanostructared bulk of W-Cu contact material was fabricated by hot press sintering in an electrical vacuum furnace. The rnicrostructure, electric conductivity, hardness and break down voltage of NS W- Cu alloys were measured and compared to those of conventional W-Cu alloys prepared by powder metallurg＇y. The experimental results show that microstructural refinement and uniformity can improve the breakdown behavior and the electric arc stability of nanostructared W- Cu contacts materials. Also, the wanostructured W- Cu contact material shows the characteristic of spreading electric arcs, which is of benefit to electric arc erosion.     

Hardness,quench sensitivity,and electrical conductivity of 7xxx Al alloys with high Zn concentrations

In this study, 7 xxx(Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) alloys with high Zn concentrations were fabricated by increasing the Zn contents of 7085 Al alloys. The hardness, quench sensitivity, and electrical conductivity of the alloys and a 7085 Al alloy under peak-aged state were studied. The high Zn concentration alloys had higher η′ phase densities and lower quantities of Mg solid atoms than the 7085 Al alloy and thus exhibited higher hardness and electrical conductivity. The high Zn concentration alloys also exhibited slightly higher quench sensitivity than 7085 Al alloy, and the depth of the quenching layer of the alloy with 11.27 wt% Zn content reached 100 mm. This work confirmed that the novel 7 xxx alloy with high Zn concentration showed balanced performance,exhibiting enhanced hardness and conductivity and reasonable quench sensitivity compared with the 7085 commercial Al alloy.     

Effect of electropolishing on electrochemical behaviours of titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

The electrochemical behaviours of titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al after electropolishing in a self-developed electrolyte in comparison with conventional grinding were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).Optical microscopy (OM),scanning electron microscopy (SEM),atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to evaluate the surface characteristics of the alloy.It was found from the EIS experiments that the polarization resistance (Rp) was increased,the double layer capacitance (Qc) was decreased and the electrochemical impedance of the alloy was enhanced by electropolishing.The electropolished surface was flat,smooth and bright and its roughness was 3.310 nm.To underline the advantage of electropolishing process against grinding to provide the anodic oxidation process with a higher quality substrate,the ground and electropolished titanium alloys were anodized in parallel under the same conditions.The corrosion behaviours of the two kinds of anodized titanium alloys were compared.It was revealed that electropolishing generated a high quality substrate and improved the corrosion resistance of anodic oxide film formed on titanium alloy Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al.Furthermore,the mechanism of electropolishing improving the corrosion resistance of the anodic oxide film was proposed.     

Effect of chemical vapor infiltration treatment on the wave-absorbing performance of carbon fiber/cement composites

Short carbon fibers were treated at high temperatures around 1100℃ through chemical vapor infiltration technology. A thinner layer ofpyrocarbon was deposited on the fiber surface. The dispersion of carbon fibers in a cement matrix and the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/cement composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and other tests. The reflec- tivity of electromagnetic waves by the composites was measured in the frequency range of 8.0-18 GHz for different carbon fiber contents of 0.2wt%, 0.4wt%, 0.6wt%, and 1.0wt%. The results show that the reflectivity tends to increase with the increase of fiber content above 0.4wt%. The minimum reflectivity is -19.3 dB and the composites exhibit wave-absorbing performances. After pyrocarbon is deposited on the fiber, all the refiectivity data are far greater. They are all above -10 dB and display mainly wave-reflecting performances.