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.     

Amplifier based on a field-effect triode with negative current feedback

Conclusions A field-effect triode amplifier with series negative current feedback allows a voltage gain of the order of 200–300 to be obtained for a load resistance R_s1 M. The coefficient K_u begins to decrease noticeably only for a feedback resistance above 500 .The current gain reaches (8–10)·10³. Increasing the resistances R_s and R_L to hundreds of ohms has practically no effect on K_i. For a further increase of R_s and R_L the coefficient K_i decreases.The power gain reaches its maximum value (of the order of 10⁴ or more) for R_s100 and R_L=10–100 k. An increase in R_s leads to a reduction of K_pmax and to a shift of the extremum of the function K_p=f(R_L) into the range of higher values of R_L.A large input resistance of the amplifier (tens of megohms and higher) is obtained when R_s increases to 10–100 M. The maximum input resistance is obtained for R_L and R_s and may exceed values of from hundreds of megohms to several gigaohms. The minimum input resistance is hundreds of kilohms for R_L and R_s0.The minimum input resistance (5–10 k or less) is ensured for R_g and R_L0. An increase of the output resistance to hundreds of megohms or higher occurs for R_g and R_s.Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 9, pp. 67–70, September, 1971.     

Torsional loading of an elastic transversely isotropic nonhomogeneous semi-infinite solid

Summary The problem of torsion of a transversely isotropic nonhomogeneous and elastic semiinfinite solid due to certain distributions of shearing forces prescribed on the plane boundary has been considered. The elastic properties of the material are continuous function of position. The shear moduli of the material are chosen asC _ii (z) = _ii cosh² (kz), i=4, 6 where _ii andk are constants. The aim of this paper is to determine the torsional deformation and shear stresses in the semi-infinite solid.With 1 Figure     

The effect of Ag additions on the microstructure of aluminium–lithium alloys

Minor quantities of Ag have been added to Al–Li–Cu–Mg–Zr alloys. Their microstructure has been studied by means of optical metallography, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. In the high Li, low Cu:Mg ratio alloys the main phases found were , , S and T1, while fewer T2 and Al7Cu2Fe precipitates were also observed. The addition of up to 0.5 wt% Ag diminishes the and T1 precipitates size. This is attributed to a small increase of Li solubility in the matrix. In the low Li, high Cu:Mg ratio alloy the addition of 0.2 wt% Ag resulted in the precipitation of phase simultaneously with , , S and T1 phases. Due to the low Li concentration an unusual growth of the / precipitates at the expense of the precipitates was also observed. © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Microstructure stability of fine-grained silicon carbide ceramics during annealing

Fine-grained silicon carbide ceramics with an average grain size of 140 nm or smaller were prepared by low-temperature hot-pressing of very fine -SiC powders using Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃-CaO (AYC) or Y-Mg-Si-Al-O-N glass (ON) as sintering additives. The microstructure stability of the resulting fine-grained SiC ceramics was investigated by annealing at 1850°C and by evaluating quantitatively the grain growth behavior using image analysis. The phase transformation of SiC in AYC-SiC was responsible for the accelerated abnormal grain growth of platelet-shaped grains. In contrast, the phase transformation in ON-SiC was suppressed, which resulted in a very stable microstructure.     

Stress-induced phase transformations in a hot-deformed two-phase (α2+γ) TiAl alloy

Stress-induced 2, 2 and 9R phase transformations in a hot-deformed Ti–45 at% Al–10 at% Nb alloy have been investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The 2 phase transformation is an interface-related process. The interfacial superdislocations emitted from the misoriented semicoherent 2– interface react with each other or with the moving dislocations in the phase, resulting in the formation of the 2 phase. The nucleation of the 2 phase transformation takes place either at the 2– interfaces or at the stacking faults on the basal plane of 2 phase, and the growth of plate is accomplished by the moving of a/61 0 1 0 Shockley partials on alternate basal plane (0 0 0 1)2. The 9R structure was usually found to form at incoherent twin or pseudotwin boundaries. During deformation the interfacial Shockley partial dislocations of these incoherent twin and pseudotwin boundaries may glide on (1 1 1) planes into the matrix, resulting in the formation of 9R structure. The interfaces (including 2– and – interfaces) as well as the crystallographic orientation relationship between the as-received or stress-induced 2, and 9R phase have been analysed. The mechanisms for the stress-induced 2, 2 and 9R phase transformations were also discussed. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

The constitution of the Ni-Al-Ru system

The constitution of the Ni-Al-Ru system has been investigated in the range 0 to 50 at% Al. Isothermal sections at 1523 and 1273 K have been determined using microstructural observations, electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The phases present were: nickel-based solid solution (); (based on Ni₃Al); solid solutions based on NiAl and RuAl, respectively (designated ₁ and ₂), and ruthenium-based solid solution (Ru). The maximum solubility of Ru in was 5 at%. ₁, and ₂ show extensive range of solubilities, namely up to 20at% Ru in ₁ and up to 25 to 35 at% Ni in ₂. Three-phase equilibrium between , ₂ and (Ru) existed at 1523 and 1273 K. Also at 1523 K, three-phase equilibria existed between , and ₁ and ,₁ and ₂, while at 1273 K, the equilibria were between , ₁,₂ and , , ₂ indicating the occurrence of a reaction +₁, +₂ at a temperature between 1523 and 1273 K. Liquidus features have been deduced from data on as-solidified structures. Lattice parameter data and hardnesses are also reported.     

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.     

A Method for Calculating Thermal Radiation Properties of Multilayer Films from Optical Constants

A calculation method for the incident angle dependence of the solar absorptance _S and the temperature dependence of the total hemispherical emittance _H of multilayer films is proposed. The method is based on calculation of _S and _H from optical constants in the wavelength region from 0.25 to 100 m for thin polymer films and deposited metal. In this paper we provide values of _S in the incident angle region from 0 to 90° and _H in the temperature range from 173.15 to 373.15 K for two-layer samples of aluminum-deposited polyimide film. The results obtained for _S and _H by the present method are compared with experimental results measured by both spectroscopic and calorimetric methods. The calculated results of _S and _H agree well with the experimental results.     

Effect of phase fluctuations upon penetration depth

The temperature dependence of the static penetration (T) has been used as a guide to the nature of the superconducting state in high-T _c materials. It has been argued that an algebraic temperature dependence in the ratio (T)/(0) [(T) — (0)]/(0) at low temperature is evidence for d-wave pairing. This paper examines the effect of superconducting phase fluctuations upon (T) and finds an algebraic dependence over a broad range of temperature.     

Coarsening of δ′ (Al3Li) and composite precipitates in an Al-2.5% Li-0.15% Zr alloy

The early stage coarsening behaviour of (Al₃Li) precipitates and composite precipitates, consisting of (Al₃Zr) core enveloped by a shell, in an Al-2.5% Li-0.15% Zr alloy has been studied at 443, 473 and 503 K by conventional transmission electron microscopy using superlattice dark-field images. Coarsening kinetics of precipitates was found to exhibit considerable deviation from the t ^1/3 law corresponding to diffusion control at 473 and 503 K. This deviation may be explained either by the operation of a surface-reaction controlled coarsening mechanism represented by t ^1/2 law, or by the presence of a slower precoarsening stage preceding diffusion-controlled coarsening. The particle-size distributions of precipitates were not in accordance with either the earlier theoretical predictions or the normal distribution. They were symmetrical or slightly skewed to the left, and particle sizes twice the average were observed. The coarsening kinetics of composite precipitates, was found to be rather different from that of ; a diffusion model which yields t ^1/n law with n changing from 1/4 to 1/6 as the coarsening progresses, was predicted. The composite precipitates have exhibited quite a narrow and rather symmetrical size distribution.     

Kinetics of alpha precipitation in Ti-6 wt % Cr and Ti-11 wt % Mo

The morphology and kinetics of the precipitation of the alpha phase produced by two different heat treatment routes, namely, (a) direct isothermal decomposition and (b)-quenching and subsequent ageing, were studied. In isothermally decomposed samples the (supersaturated) + transformation was seen to occur mainly through the discontinuous growth of the transformed zone consisting of groups of parallel side plates from the grain boundary regions towards the interior of the grain. Unlike for the case of a regular discontinuous precipitation, here the transformed regions are not separated from the untransformed by an incoherent interface and the growing-plates do obey a fixed orientation relationship with the grain from which they are evolved. The theory of cellular reaction has been applied to explain the growth rate of the duplex ( + ) region. The overall reaction kinetics were analysed on the basis of the Johnson-Mehl formulation and were found to be consistent with that of a discontinuous precipitation reaction, where grain boundary nucleation sites were saturated at an early stage of the transformation. The structure of the-quenched samples showed a uniform distribution of athermal omega particles which acted as precursors to the-precipitates. As a consequence, the reaction rate was greatly enhanced and-precipitation in the quenched and aged samples was seen to occur continuously in the entire body of the grain.     

Heating of “thin” bodies in liquid media

Heating of thin (Bi0.25) bodies in liquid media is examined, taking into account crystallization and fusion at the body-medium interface.     

Anisotropic grain growth of R-α-sialon (R = Nd and Er)

Two R--sialon (R_0.6Si_9.3Al_2.7O_0.9N_15.1, R=Nd and Er) compositions were first fired at 1750°C/25 min and 1650°C/2 h respectively for completion of the phase transformation. Elongated -sialon grain morphology was developed in both samples after being re-fired at 1800°C for different periods of time. The growth in width of R--sialon grains is controlled by diffusion in the liquid, while the length growth tends to be interfacial reaction controlled. The anisotropic growth of R--sialon is attributed to the large difference in the growth rate constant between the length and the width directions of the grain.     

Eutectoid decomposition mechanisms in hypoeutectoid Ti-X alloys

A TEM study has been made of the bainite reaction in five hypoeutectoid Ti-X alloys, where X was successively cobalt, chromium, copper, iron and nickel. Rational orientation relationships were demonstrated amongst eutectoid , eutectoid intermetallic compound and the matrix in Ti-Ni, Ti-Co and Ti-Cr. Formation of Ti₂Co at : boundaries was observed. Eutectoid in bainite was found to be slightly misoriented with respect to proeutectoid , indicating that it is separately nucleated, perhaps sympathetically, rather than the result of the continued growth of proeutectoid . Eutectoid Ti₂Co and Ti₂Cu crystals in bainite were approximately equiaxed whereas Ti-Cr₂ crystals were elongated, a result ascribed to a ledge height-to-spacing ratio / at intermetallic compound crystal: boundaries approaching that of eutectoid (: boundaries in Ti-Cr but not in the other two systems. In the Ti-Fe alloy, eutectoid and eutectoid TiFe were directly observed to have ledged interphase boundaries with their matrix, but with different inter-ledge spacings and growth directions. Observation of pearlite lamellae growing normal to the broad faces of proeutectoid plates in the Ti-Ni alloy indicates that this mode of eutectoid decomposition, like that of bainite, can develop from partially coherent interphase boundaries. The suggestion was offered that pearlite forms when approachesh at the nucleating proeutectoid : interface and that bainite develops when h at this interface.     

Fabrication of β- and β′′-Al2O3 tubes by pressureless powder packing forming and salt infiltration

A new forming method, pressureless powder packing (PLPP), was studied to fabricate the - and -Al2O3 tubes. Alkali sources were infiltrated into the pores of -Al2O3 tube preforms that had been prepared by the PLPP forming method. The composition for the synthesis of -Al2O3 phase was Na2O · 0. 138Li2 · 4.4Al2O3. The -Al2O3 fraction of calcined and sintered bodies was increased with the increase of calcination temperature, and phase formation was largely affected by the type of starting -Al2O3. Large particle size and narrow size distribution of fused -Al2O3 resulted in uniform green microstructure that enhanced the homogeneity of alkali salts after infiltration, which was very important for the -Al2O3 formation. Sintered microstructure was uniform in all specimens but further development was required for density improvement.     

Cellular microstructure and heterogeneous coarsening of δ′ in rapidly solidified Al-Li-Ti alloys

Four melt-spun Al-Li-Ti alloys with 2 wt% lithium and 0.10 to 0.35 wt% titanium have been obtained and heat-treated at 473 K for up to 1000 h. Rapid solidification gives rise to a matrix with titanium in solid solution which drastically alters the coarsening rate. While TEM studies of samples aged for short times show a homogeneous distribution of metastable phase, as ageing time is increased, and depending on the ribbon section, three different microstructures can be distinguished: (i) on the wheel side, the distribution is homogeneous; (ii) intermediate regions show particles delineating cells with narrow walls; (iii) on the gas side, particles delineate circular cells. A higher titanium content in the cell centres than on cell walls has been determined. The coarsening rate of in microstructure (i) above is slower than in binary Al-Li alloys. Cellular microstructures (ii) and (iii) show the preferential coarsening of particles on the walls, which is faster the higher the titanium concentration. Taking into account the fact that the partition coefficient of titanium in aluminium in the peritectic region is > 1, an explanation of phase evolution is given which leads to the conclusion that the effect of titanium in solid solution is to retain vacancies, restricting lithium diffusion.     

A bibliometric profile of top-scientists a case study in chemical engineering

We carefully selected a group of chemical engineering scientists internationally recognized as top-scientists in their field. A method has been developed to systematically compare bibliometric characteristics of these top-scientists with an average scientist in chemical engineering. This method also includes citation-analysis of books and proceedings. The results show a very clear bibliometric profile. First, top-scientists references are more numerous and, fourth, they concern more recent literature. Our fifth findings is that the journals used by top-scientists for their publications are representative for the field of chemical engineering as a whole. But they differ in specific aspects significantly from the average journal structure in chemical engineering: the published work of top-scientists is both general as well as more specialistic than the average work in chemical engineering.     

Microstructure and properties of supersaturated ZA27 alloy during natural ageing

The decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution of ZA27 alloy at room temperature has been investigated by X-ray diffraction, TEM and mechanical properties testing. Based on the results obtained, both continuous precipitation and cellular reaction occur during the decomposition process. The continuous precipitation follows the sequence: ₁ + spherical GP zones ₂ + elliptical GP zones ₃ + R + . The cellular reaction can be written: + + . The properties of the alloy depend on the microstructure. After 1 month of ageing, a series of changes of microstructure have taken place. The properties of the alloy are: _b=500 MPa, =13%,H _v=148.     

Liquid phase sintering of RE2O3: YSZ ceramics Part I Grain growth and expelling of the grain boundary glass phase

Experiments on silicate liquid phase sintering of YSZ ceramics with addition of 0.5 mol% of rare earth ions have been done in order to study the effect of these ions on the kinetics of grain growth and the expulsion of glass through the grain boundaries. Kinetics follow a third power law in the following order YPr>YPrEr>YY>YEr. The expelled glass does not spread over the ceramic grains and its mass is inversely related to grain size. Glass phase separation inside the grain boundaries is found to be a necessary condition for glass expulsion.