Synthesis,microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3 reinforced Ni3Al matrix composite

A new method to synthesize alumina reinforced Ni₃Al intermetallic matrix composites has been described. The powder mixture of nickel and aluminium was mechanically alloyed. The powder mixture was excessively heated during mechanical alloying and then exposed to atmosphere for oxidation. The oxidized powder mixture was transformed into alumina reinforced nickel aluminide matrix composite on subsequent pulse current processing. Alumina reinforcements were generated in the nickel aluminide matrix by in situ precipitation. The microstructure of the composite showed that the alumina reinforcements were 50–150 nm in size. The fine alumina reinforcements were homogeneously distributed in the matrix phase. The mechanical properties of the alumina reinforced nickel aluminide matrix composite fairly exceeded the nickel aluminide alloys. This novel synthesis approach allowed the rapid and facile production of high strength alumina reinforced Ni₃Al matrix composites.     

The effect of titanium addition on the microstructure,mechanical and tribological properties of Ni3Si alloys prepared by powder metallurgy method

Ni₃Si alloy with different content of titanium was fabricated by powder metallurgy method. The microstructures, hardness and tribological properties of the alloys were investigation. The results showed that pure Ni₃Si alloy was composed of β₁‐Ni₃Si phase and γ‐Ni₃₁Si₁₂ phase, and Ni₃Ti phase formed with titanium addition. The hardness of the alloy decreased with the increasing titanium content. The friction coefficient of pure Ni₃Si alloy increased with the increasing load, while the friction coefficient of the alloy with titanium addition decreased. The wear rates of the alloys were all increased with increasing load, and the alloy with 5 % titanium addition had the best wear resistance properties. The wear mechanisms of the alloys were abrasive wear at low load, and the wear mechanisms changed to oxidative wear at high load.     

Laser cladding nickel-titanium carbide composite coating on a 45 carbon steel: Preparation,microstructure and wear behavior

Almost fully dense nickel-titanium carbide composite coatings with varied titanium carbide content were deposited on 45 carbon steel by laser cladding. High content of titanium carbide particles up to 50 wt.% with bimodal microstructure could be homogeneously distributed in the nickel based matrix. Due to the presence of the harder nickel-titanium carbide composite coating on the 45 carbon steel, the surface hardness and wear properties were significantly improved. The Vickers hardness (HV 3) increased from about 260 HV 3 for the 45 carbon steel to 300 HV 3 – 360 HV 3 for nickel based composite coating containing 30 wt.% titanium carbide and 550 HV 3 – 680 HV 3 for nickel based composite coating containing 50 wt.% titanium carbide composite coating, respectively. The coefficient of friction and volume wear rate was reduced down to 0.41×10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ and 9.3×10⁻⁶ mm³ N⁻¹ ⋅ m⁻¹ when a nickel based composite coating containing 50 wt.% titanium carbide was coated on the 45 carbon steel, respectively. The enhanced wear performance of the composite coating was due to presence of harder nickel-titanium carbide composite coating and formation of varied soft and lubricant metal oxides consisting of mainly titanium oxides and minor iron and nickel oxides.     

Reaction sintering and joining nickel aluminide to AISI 316 stainless steel by self-propagating high temperature synthesis

Abstract

Self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) is a process whereby reactants are ignited to spontaneously transform to products in an exothermic reaction. The aim of this study is to propose a method to join nickel aluminide with AISI 316 stainless steel by SHS and to study the combustion synthesis of nickel aluminide. From the heat of combustion synthesis junctions were formed between annular AISI 316 stainless steel and a powder metallurgy compact of Ni and Al blends. The Al mole ratio for testing the joining grade in the initial powder mixture varied from 25 at.-% to 40 at.-%. In order to check the sufficiency of the SHS reaction, the test temperature was compared with the thermodynamic calculation values. The metallographic analysis indicated that NiAl and Ni₃Al were formed in the joint layer.     

Microstructure and properties of in‐situ vanadium carbide phase reinforced nickel based coating by laser cladding

Laser cladding has been applied to fabricate in‐situ vanadium carbide phase on the surface of C45E (according to ISO 683‐1:2016 (E)) using a preplaced powder consisting of 55 wt.% Ni35 and 45 wt.% (FeV50 + graphite), meanwhile, pure Ni35 has also been cladded for comparison. The microstructure and phases analysis were carried out by means of optical microscope, X‐ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electron probe microanalysis. The microhardness and wear resistance were tested through the microhardness tester and ring‐on‐block wear tester respectively. The results show that there are many kinds of microstructure such as cellular and columnar crystals for the pure Ni35 cladding coating, and lots of cellular or dendritic vanadium carbide and reticular Cr₂Fe₁₄C₃ phases distribute over the Fe₃Ni₂ matrix in the coating cladded with 55 wt.% Ni35 and 45 wt.% (FeV50 + graphite). Vanadium carbide phase is uniformly distributed and bonded metallurgically to the matrix very well, which increases the hardness and wear resistance. The wear resistance of coating cladded with 55 wt. % Ni35 and 45 wt. % (FeV50 + graphite) alloy powder is 5.16 times as high as C45E, and is higher 139.7% than that of the pure Ni35 clad layer.     

TiH2-based Ti-1Al-8V-5Fe PM alloys with different addition methods of alloying elements

The powder metallurgy high-strength Ti-1Al-8V-5Fe alloy (Ti-185 alloy) was investigated in this paper with different addition methods of alloying elements, Al, V, Fe pure elements powder (EP) or 1Al-8V-5Fe ternary master alloy powder (MAP), based on TiH₂ powders at the sintering temperature from 1150 to 1350°C. The results indicate that the Ti-185 alloy with the 1Al-8V-5Fe master alloy (Ti-185 MAP alloy) possesses the higher relative sintered density, less oxygen content, and less α-phase volume fraction versus the Ti-185 alloy with Al, V, and Fe pure elements (Ti-185 EP alloy). No matter where the sintering temperature is 1150, 1250, or 1350°C, Ti-185 MAP alloy invariably has the higher yield strength and hardness which have a strong relationship to its higher density and less volume fraction of softer α-phase in comparison with Ti-185 EP alloy.     

Interfaces in nickel aluminide/alumina fibre composites

Metal matrix composites based on the intermetallic alloy Ni₃Al and fibres of Al₂O₃ were fabricated by hot-pressing nickel aluminide powders and alumina fibres. Two matrix alloys were used in this investigation: Ni₃Al microalloyed with boron and Ni₃Al alloyed with 8 at% chromium and smaller amounts of zirconium and boron. The materials were studied using optical and transmission electron microscopy with particular emphasis placed on the characteristics of the matrix-fibre interface. The base Ni₃Al/Al₃O₃ composite displayed no evidence of chemical reaction at the interface, an intimate bond between matrix and fibre was observed, and the material exhibited 10% ductility at room temperature. Composites with the more complex matrix alloy were brittle, a phenomenon attributed to the formation of zirconia particles at the interface.     

Effect of TiN nanoparticles on the grain size,wear resistance,and strength of the intermetallic compound Ni<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al

We have studied the effect of TiN nanoparticles as crystallization centers for the intermetallic compound Ni₃Al on the grain size of Ni₃Al synthesized under pressure using a stoichiometric elemental powder mixture. The results demonstrate that the addition of 0.3–0.7 wt % TiN nanoparticles to a starting mixture of nickel and aluminum powders reduces the average grain size of the synthesized intermetallic compound and raises its wear resistance and tensile strength in the temperature range from 20 to 1000°C.     

Creep Behavior of Powder Metallurgy SiC‐Al Composites

The creep properties of powder metallurgy (PM) discontinuous SiC‐Al alloys (whisker and particulate) and their Al matrices have been the subject of many studies recently that have aimed not only at assessing the potential of the PM SiC‐Al alloys for use as high temperature materials but also at identifying the origin creep strengthening in such materials. As a result of these studies, several sets of experimental results are now available. This paper reviews some of the results. Emphasis is placed on the identification of issues related to early work and on efforts made recently to clarify them. In addition, recent developments regarding the roles played by SiC particulates and the Al alloy matrix during the creep of a PM SiC‐Al composite are discussed.     

Formation of nickel aluminide/nickel hybrid coatings on alloy steels by two step process of nickel plating and low temperature pack aluminisation

Abstract

The present study investigates the conditions required for forming a hybrid coating consisting of an outer nickel aluminide layer and an inner nickel layer on alloy steels. A commercial alloy steel of 9Cr–1Mo was used as a substrate. Electroless and electronickel plating processes were used to form an initial nickel layer on the steel. The AlCl₃ activated packs containing pure Al as a depositing source were then used to aluminise the nickel deposit at temperatures ≤650°C. The effect of phosphorus or boron content in the initial nickel layer deposited with the electroless nickel plating solutions using hypophosphite or boron–hydrogen compound as reducing agent was investigated in relation to the spallation tendency of the coating either immediately after the aluminising process or during the thermal annealing post-aluminising process. Under the aluminising conditions used, the outer nickel aluminide layer formed was Ni₂Al₃. For the electroplated nickel deposit, the growth kinetics of the outer Ni₂Al₃ layer during the pack aluminising process was found to obey the parabolic rate law with a parabolic rate constant being 12·67 μm at 650°C for 2 wt-%AlCl₃ activated pack containing 4 wt-% pure Al as a deposition source.     

Aluminizing nickel foam by a slurry coating process

A simple, one-step slurry coating technique was used to aluminize open cell nickel metal foam at low temperature and short hold-down time. Three slurries of different composition, heat-treated at 650 °C for 2 h, were used to investigate the possibility of developing an aluminide coating on a commercially produced Ni foam. In all cases a dense, well-adhered to the Ni substrate aluminide coating of several μm thickness was produced. The thickness and aluminide phase and composition (NiAl and/or Ni₃Al) of the coating strongly depend on Al content and the mix of activators in the slurry.     

Pulvermetallurgische Erzeugung von SiC‐ und Al2O3‐verstärkten Al‐Cu‐Legierungen

Powder metallurgical fabrication of SiC and Al₂O₃ reinforced Al‐Cu alloys Based on metallographic studies the states of composite powder formation during high‐energy ball milling will be discussed. Spherical powder of aluminium alloy AA2017 was used as feedstock material for the matrix. SiC and Al₂O₃ powders of submicron and micron grain size (<2 μm) were chosen as reinforcement particles with contents of 5 and 15 vol.‐% respectively. The milling duration amounted to a maximum of 4 hours. The abrasion of the surface of the steel balls, the rotor and the vessel is indicated by the content of ferrous particles in the powder. High‐energy ball milling leads to satisfying particle dispersion for both types of reinforcement particles. Further improvements are intended. The microstructure of compact material obtained by hot isostatic pressing and extrusion was studied in detail by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. For both types of reinforcement the microstructure of composites is similar. The microporosity is low. The interface between reinforcement particles and matrix is free of brittle phases and microcracks. In the case of SiC reinforcement particles, a small interface interaction is detectable which implies a good embedding of reinforcement particles. High‐energy ball milling under air‐atmosphere leads to the formation of the spinel phase MgAl₂O₄ during the subsequent powder‐metallurgical processing. Because of the size, rate and dispersion of the spinel particles, an additional reinforcement effect is expected.     

Properties of high strength Al85La10Ni5 alloy

High strength Al₈₅La₁₀Ni₅ alloy with less than 3% porosity has been obtained under certain pressing and heating conditions by a powder metallurgy method (P/M). The compression strength and the hardness of the P/M aluminum alloy reach 950 MPa and HRc 32, respectively. The wear resistance of the alloy pressed at 753 K is twice of the conventional aluminum alloy A355. The high strength and wear resistance of the P/M aluminum alloy is attributed to second-phase strengthening and fine-grain strengthening.     

超细Al2O3颗粒增强铜基复合材料的研究

采用热压烧结法制备了超细Al₂O_3P/Cu 复合材料, 并进行了轧制, 对其组织与性能进行观察与分析。结果表明, 超细Al₂O_3P在基体中分布均匀, 细化了晶粒, 具有优于铜及铜合金的抗软化性能和耐磨性能。随着超细Al₂O_3P含量的提高, 密度、电导率降低, 硬度、强度升高, 轧制后的电导率与美国SCM 制品接近。      

Eigenschaften und Anwendungen von Chemisch Nickel‐Dispersionsschichten

Properties and applications of electroless nickel composite coatings This paper discusses the variety of composite electroless coatings used in different industrial applications. The inclusion of particulate matter within electroless nickel deposits can add entirely new properties to the plated layer. Composites with hard particles like diamond, silicon carbide and boron carbide provide greater wear resistance and the possibility for adjustable friction properties. Composite electroless nickel with diamond or ceramics has found wide applications in the textile, automotive and mechanical engineering industry. Friction joints in automotive engines constitute an important field of application for diamond coatings. Modern internal combustion engine designs require that the crankshaft and camshaft be fitted at a specific relative angle. In order to establish the correct angle during assembly and maintain it over the life of the engine, axial press‐fit joints in combination with centrally located retention bolts are employed. Failure of either the joints or the bolts can result in serious damage to the engine. The torque transfer ability of these engine components can be significantly increased by incorporating a friction foil that is diamond‐coated on both sides. Composite coatings with coarser diamond particles can be used for the coating of precision tools in the semiconductor industry. Enhanced lubricity can be achieved by incorporating solid lubricants in electroless nickel deposits. Composite coatings with PTFE or PFA offers non‐stick surfaces with antiadhesive properties and good resistance against adhesive wear. Because of the temperature and softness limitations these coatings are best suited for lower temperature and light loading applications. Electroless nickel boron nitride coatings can withstand temperatures up to 600 °C. This coating reduces coefficient of friction and wear in dynamic applications. A further application is the coating of molds for rubber and plastic components.     

Abrasive wear of Al‐SiC composites

The two‐ and three‐body abrasion of aluminium matrix composites, reinforced with silicon carbide particles, have been investigated. The metal matrix composites were fabricated by a powder metallurgy route involving a final hot extrusion step. Air atomised aluminium powder Al 1100 was used as matrix and α‐SiC_p as reinforcement with mean sizes of 10, 27 and 43 μm; in the proportions of 5, 10 and 20 vol.%. Using a pin‐on‐disc apparatus and a wet monolayer tester, two‐ and three‐body abrasion tests were carried out respectively against silicon carbide and alumina abrasives with four different grit sizes. The microstructural characterizations were performed using light microscopy. The dominant wear mechanisms were identified using scanning electron microscopy. The influence of type of the abrasive particles on wear resistance and dominating wear mechanisms was reported. Relationships between size and volume fraction of the SiC_p reinforcement and wear resistance were discussed. It was shown that SiC_p particles reinforcement increases the abrasion resistance against all the abrasives used. This increase was generally higher against alumina than against silicon carbide abrasives.     

Synthesis and characterization of functionally graded nickel‐nickel coated ZrO2 composite coating

Electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ (NCZ) particles have been used to produce a functionally graded nickel‐electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ composite coating. So, electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ particles concentration was continuously increased from 0 to an optimum value in the electroplating bath (Watt's bath). The substrate was ST37 steel and the thickness of the coating was approximately 50 μm. Also a uniformly distributed nickel‐electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ composite coating has been manufactured as comparison. The composite coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. Structure and phase composition were identified by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Microhardness of the coatings was evaluated by employing a Vickers instrument. Three‐point bend test was carried out to compare the adhesion strength of the coatings. Dry sliding wear tests were performed using a pin‐on‐disk wear apparatus. The electrochemical behavior of the coatings was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The microhardness measurements showed that, with increasing the co‐electrodeposited electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ particle content in the nickel matrix, the microhardness increases from interface towards the surface of the functionally graded composite coating. Bend, wear and electrochemical test results confirmed that the functionally graded composite coating has higher adhesion, wear resistance and corrosion resistance as compared with the uniformly distributed coating. This has been attributed to lower mechanical mismatch between coating and substrate in functionally graded composite coating with respect to the uniformly distributed one.     

Influence of the Heat Treatments on Creep Behaviour of Nickel Aluminide with Boron

The nickel aluminide with boron alloy is being considered for elevated-temperature structural application in particular for jet turbine engine components. The alloy is attractive due to its ease of production, the low cost of its components, and its property advantages relative to superalloys. Therefore, if alloys based on Ni₃Al are successfully developed, substantial increases in engine performance and efficiency may be realized.The creep characteristics of an intermetallic Ni₃Al alloy containing boron produced by hot isostatic pressing were investigated in the temperature range 800 to 900^°C. Various heat treatments were used to produce different initial grain sizes of this alloy.Parameters studied were steady state strain rate, time to fracture, ductility and Larson-Miller parameter. The stress exponent, activation energy for creep and grain size exponent were calculated.It was found that by increasing the temperature of the heat treatment, the grain size increased. The results showed that the creep behaviour for this alloy improved as grain size increased. Furthermore, a comparison of the resulting creep data with data obtained from references is discussed.     

Evaluation on tribological design coatings of Al2O3, Ni–P–PTFE and MoS2 on aluminium alloy 7075 under oil lubrication

The current work evaluated the friction and wear properties of tribological design surface coatings on aluminium alloy 7075 under various speed and nominal contact pressure. Hard-anodized Aluminium Oxide (Al₂O₃), burnished Refractory Metal Sulfide (MoS₂) and composite electroless nickel coatings with polytetrafluoroethylene (Ni–P–PTFE) particles were subjected to pin-on-disc sliding test against grey cast iron (GCI) under Mach 5 SL SAE 10 W-30 lubrication. The results indicated that Ni–P–PTFE composite coating possessed excellent friction–reduction capability but limited wear resistance due to low mechanical strength. Al₂O₃ coated sample showed outstanding wear resistance with high friction characteristic leading to high surface contact temperature. Furthermore, MoS₂ coating improved the wear resistance of the aluminium alloy.     

A cost-effective P/M titanium matrix composite for automobile use

The aim of the present study is to obtain a new high-performance titanium matrix composite appropriate for automobile parts using a new low-cost powder metallurgy process. The results can be summarized as follows:

1. A production process was developed for a sintered titanium alloy from cheap, low-purity titanium powder (sponge fines) which in its as-sintered form (without expensive hot isostatic pressing or heat treatment) achieves superior fatigue properties to hot-isostatic-pressed titanium alloy made from expensive high purity hydride-dehydride titanium powder.
2. TiB was found to be a superior reinforcing compound for blended elemental titanium matrix composites than SiC, B₄C, TiAl, TiB₂, TiN and TiC tested previously and it was used in the above low-cost production process to make the new disperse-particle titanium matrix composites.
3. The developed titanium matrix composite allows considerably cheaper production of parts from titanium alloy than by conventional ingot forging methods and was confirmed to be far superior to conventional titatium alloys in tensile strength, fatigue properties, rigidity, heat resistance, and wear resistance.