Experimental study on the plastic deformation and densification characteristics of some sintered and heat treated low alloy powder metallurgy steels

Sintered low alloy steels containing the alloying elements molybdenum, copper and titanium were synthesised through powder metallurgy route from mixed elemental powders to yield the compositions: Fe–0.5% C, Fe–0.5% C–2% Cu, Fe–0.5% C–2% Mo and Fe–0.5% C–2% Cu–2% Mo–2% Ti. Green cylindrical compacts were made using a 1000 kN hydraulic press using suitable cylindrical die-punch combination. The ceramic coated cylindrical preforms were sintered at 1000 ± 10 °C in a muffle furnace for a period of 120 min. After sintering, the preforms were subjected to different heat treatment processes, namely, heating to 900 °C, soaking for 60 min and quenching in air or oil or cooled inside the furnace. The heat treated preforms were subject to axial upsetting deformations, at various applied loads and their densification behaviours were compared. The influence of various heat treatment processes on deformation and densification of the alloys was studied and correlated with their microstructures. The plain carbon steel preforms were observed to respond well to the three heat treatment cycles by way of exhibiting the highest levels of densification and plastic deformation. However, both alloy addition and heat treatment have led to a reduction in densification and deformation of the alloy steel preforms. Presence of titanium carbide particulates in the microstructure of the Ti-alloyed steel has played a significant role in reducing the densification as well as deformation. The basic ferritic–pearlitic microstructure of Fe–0.5% C steel has essentially promoted the largest deformation levels coupled with higher densification.     

Value Addition to Sulfate Waste Pickle Liquor of Steel Industry Using Hydrometallurgical Processes

The solvent extraction of concentrated acid was investigated from sulfate waste pickle liquors using Cyanex 923 (trialkylphosphine oxide (TRPO); manufactured by Cytec Industries Inc., Woodland Park, NJ; provided by Cyanamid Canada Inc. (Markham, Canada)) as an extractant. The effect of various parameters was studied such as extractant concentration, organic-to-aqueous phase ratio, temperature. and retention time on acid extraction from the waste pickle liquor to the organic phase, After the saturation of the organic phase with sulfuric acid, stripping studies were performed to back-extract the pure acid into the aqueous phase. The raffinate of the solvent extraction process that contains both ferrous and ferric iron as well as trace impurities was subjected to oxidation and hydrothermal treatment to precipitate iron with a well-defined pseudo-cubic morphology and a high coercivity value that renders it suitable for high-grade ferrite production.     

The RAGE/DIAPH1 Signaling Axis & Implications for the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Complications

Increasing evidence links the RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products)/DIAPH1 (Diaphanous 1) signaling axis to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. RAGE is a multi-ligand receptor and through these ligand–receptor interactions, extensive maladaptive effects are exerted on cell types and tissues targeted for dysfunction in hyperglycemia observed in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence indicates that RAGE ligands, acting as damage-associated molecular patterns molecules, or DAMPs, through RAGE may impact interferon signaling pathways, specifically through upregulation of IRF7 (interferon regulatory factor 7), thereby heralding and evoking pro-inflammatory effects on vulnerable tissues. Although successful targeting of RAGE in the clinical milieu has, to date, not been met with success, recent approaches to target RAGE intracellular signaling may hold promise to fill this critical gap. This review focuses on recent examples of highlights and updates to the pathobiology of RAGE and DIAPH1 in diabetic complications.     

Transient analysis of super conducting fault current limiter integrated with multi-terminal direct current system

Since the extension of voltage source converter (VSC) based high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system to multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) system is easy, the application of MTDC system is more attractive than before. But the VSC based HVDC system is more vulnerable to DC line faults due to the high discharge current from the DC link capacitance. In this aspect, a super conducting fault current limiter (SCFCL) is a better choice to reduce the consequences of DC line faults. The main objective of this paper is to improve the dynamic performance of an offshore wind farm connected multi-terminal VSC-HVDC transmission system by incorporating SCFCL at different locations. Here, the SCFCL integrated MTDC system is modelled in MATLAB/Simulink and the results are presented for various AC/DC fault conditions.     

Tribological Investigation of AZ91/SiC Magnesium Hybrid Composite under Dry,Oil and Nanofluids Lubricating Conditions

Silicon - In present research AZ91D/SiC composites were developed using advanced vacuum assisted stir casting process. The tribological properties of AZ91D/SiC composites under dry, oil and...     

Microstructure and mechanical behavior of Cr-Cr2Hfin situ intermetallic composites

A detailed investigation of the effects of microstructural changes on the mechanical behavior of twoin situ intermetallic composites with Cr and Cr₂Hf phases in the Cr-Hf system was performed. The nominal compositions (at. pct) of the alloys were Cr-5.6Hf (hypoeutectic) and Cr-13Hf (eutectic). The study included evaluations of strength, ductility, and fracture toughness as a function of temperature and creep behavior. Two microstructures in each alloy were obtained by heat treatments at 1250 ‡C (fine microstructure) and 1500 ‡C (coarse microstructure). A decrease in elastic strength (stress at the onset of inelastic response in the load-deflection curve) with the coarsening of the microstructures was noted for both alloys below 1000 ‡C. The Cr-13Hf alloy retained strength to a higher test temperature, relative to Cr-5.6Hf alloy, under both microstructural conditions. The alloys showed no evidence of ductility at room temperature. However, in the coarse microstructure of the Cr-5.6Hf alloy, the primary Cr exhibited ductility at and above 200 ‡C; ductility in primary Cr could be seen only at and above 1000 ‡C for the fine microstructure. In other words, the temperature at which ductility was first observed decreased from about 1000 ‡C to about 200 ‡C due to high-temperature heat treatment in this alloy. Both microstructures of Cr-5.6Hf alloy showed a significant increase in fracture toughness with increasing test temperature. However, the increases in fracture toughness with temperature for the Cr-13Hf alloy microstructures were relatively small. Both alloys showed about four orders of magnitude reduction in steady-state creep rates relative to pure Cr at 1200 ‡C. The results are analyzed in the light of deformation characteristics and fracture micromechanisms. The effects of microstructural factors, such as the size and continuity of phases, solubility levels of Hf as well as interstitial elements in Cr, on the observed mechanical behavior are discussed. Formerly Research Scientist, Materials and Processes, UES, Inc.     

Localized collapse of shells of revolution using a local-global strategy

The mode of collapse in many metallic shells is, oftentimes, one of localized collapse, wherein severe plastic deformation and high displacement gradients are localized within some region. The combined material and geometric non-linearity emanating from this local region is the predominant cause of instability in shells of revolution. In such a situation a local-global strategy is very useful for an efficient analysis. This strategy consists of employing two dimensional degenerated isoparametric shell elements with non-linear capability in a well defined 'local' zone where all the non-linearities are expected to be localized and which also contains some form of local deviation from axisymmetry such as a circumferential imperfection, cutouts, cracks, etc. Linear elastic ring type elements are employed in the remaining axisymmetric zone and the two zones are linked through a transformation between the degrees of freedom involved. The solution of the non-linear problem is achieved by appropriate condensation procedures to reduce the number of active degrees of freedom and the load incrementation is achieved by the well known 'arc length' iterative procedure. Numerical exampies are presented to demonstrate that this strategy is very efficient and accurate for problems with well defined non-linear local zones. The capability of this strategy for treating problems with local material discontinuities such as cracks, cutouts, etc. as an efficient alternative to a complete two dimensional discretization is pointed out.     

Application of dynamic recrystallization model for the prediction of microstructure during hot working

During hot working operation, the work-piece deforms to the shape of the die geometry at the imposed deformation rates and temperatures. Deformation processing maps, obtained based on the concepts of Dynamic Materials Modeling, can be used to identify optimum deformation conditions. Dynamic Recrystallization (DRX) is shown to be the operating softening mechanism at these optimum deformation conditions, and results in predictable microstructures. The model proposed for explaining the microstructural evolution during DRX is extended to predict the resulting microstructure based on the information about the deformation loads and work-piece temperatures. The model predictions are validated on Al and Cu. This model can be applied for on-line process control, provided the metal forming equipment is appropriately instrumented.     

Probabilistic analysis of a continuous review perishable inventory system with Markovian demand,Erlangian life and non-instantaneous lead time

Summary This article obtains an explicit cost expression for a continuous review (S, s) ordering policy inventory system of perishable items, in the stationary case. The cost expression is closely related to the stationary distribution of the stochastic processL(t), representing the inventory at any timet. The stochastic behaviour of the process {L(t),t-0} is characterised by identifying an imbedded MRP. The demands of the system are governed by a Poisson process. The items in the inventory have a useful life time characterised by an Erlangian distribution. The lead time is a random variable with specified probability distribution. It is assumed that the demands that arrive when the inventory is zero are lost.

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Zusammenfassung Der vorliegende Artikel behandelt einen expliziten Kostenausdruck für eine stetige Überprüfung der (S, s) Bestellpolitik eines Lagerhaltungssystems verderblicher Güter im stationären Fall. Der Kostenausdruck ist eng verbunden mit der stationären Verteilung des stochastischen ProzessesL(t), der den Lagerbestand zu jeder beliebigen Zeitt darstellt. Das stochastische Verhalten des Prozesses {L(t),t-0} wird characterisiert durch die Identifikation eines eingebetteten MRP. Die Nachfragewerte des Systems werden durch einen Poisson-Prozeß bestimmt. Die gelagerten Güter haben eine nutzbare Lebensdauer, die durch eine Erlang-Verteilung beschrieben wird. Die Durchlaufzeit ist eine Zufallsvariable mit spezifierter Wahrscheinlichkeitsverteilung. Es wird zudem unterstellt, daß nicht befriedigte Nachfrage bei leerem Lager verloren geht.