Worker Exposure Monitoring of Suspended Particles in a Thermal Spray Industry

The purpose of the present work was the investigation and characterization of the quality of air in a thermal spray industry, in Greece. The activities that take place in the specific facility, as well as in most other similar industries, include thermal spraying and several mechanical and metallurgical tasks that generate airborne particles, such as grit-blasting, cutting and grinding of metallic components. Since the main focus of this work was the workers exposure to airborne particles and heavy metals, portable air samplers with quartz fiber filters, were used daily for 8 h. Three samplers, carried from different employees, were used for a period of 1 month. Results showed that both particles and heavy metals concentrations were low, even in the production site, which was the most susceptible area. The only exceptions were observed in the case of cleaning and maintenance activities in the thermal spray booth and in the case of spraying outside the booth. The main reason for the low concentrations is the fact that most of the activities that could produce high-particle concentrations are conducted in closed, well-ventilated systems. Statistical elaboration of results showed that particles are correlated with Ni, Cu, Co. The same conclusion is extracted for Fe, Mn. These correlations indicate possible common sources.     

The isoxazolidines: the effects of steric factor and hydrophobic chain length on the corrosion inhibition of mild steel in acidic medium

Several new isoxazolidines having varying degree of steric environment and hydrophobic chain length, prepared efficiently using single-step nitrone cycloaddition reactions, are tested for corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1 M and 5 M HCl at 50-70 °C range by gravimetric and electrochemical methods. All compounds have shown very good corrosion inhibition efficiency (IE%) in acidic solution. Steric crowding around the nitrogen centres and hydrophobic chain lengths as well as increase in temperature (in the presence of the inhibitor in the higher concentration range 100-400 ppm) are found to increase the inhibition efficiency of the isoxazolidines. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°_ads, ΔH°_ads, ΔS°_ads) for the adsorption process and kinetic parameters for the metal dissolution (or hydrogen evolution) reaction in the presence of one of the isoxazolidines were determined. Experimental results agree with the Temkin adsorption isotherm. The inhibition of corrosion in 1 M HCl, influenced by both physi- and chemi-sorption, was found to be under mixed control, but predominantly under cathodic control.     

Microstructure and tensile properties of squeeze cast magnesium alloy AM50

High-pressure die cast magnesium alloy AM50 is currently used extensively in large and complex shaped thin-wall automotive components. For further expansion of the alloy usage in automobiles, novelmanufacturing processes need to be developed. In this study, squeeze casting of AM50 alloy with a relatively thick cross section was carried out using a hydraulic press with an applied pressure of 70 MPa. Microstructure and mechanical properties of the squeeze cast AM50 with a cross-section thickness of 10 mm were characterized in comparison with the die cast counterpart. The squeeze cast AM50 alloy exhibits virtually no porosity in the microstructure as evaluated by both optical microscopy and the density measurement technique. The results of tensile testing indicate the improved tensile properties, specifically ultimate tensile strength and elongation, for the squeeze cast samples over the conventional high-pressure die cast parts. The analysis of tensile behavior show that the strain-hardening rate during the plastic deformation of the squeeze cast specimens is constantly higher than that of the die cast specimens. The scanning electron microscopy fractography evidently reveals the ductile fracture features of the squeeze cast alloy AM50.     

Sustainable end-of-life vehicle recycling: R&;D collaboration between industry and the U.S. DOE

Approximately 15 million cars and trucks reach the end of their useful life in the United States each year. More than 75% of the materials from end-of-life vehicles are profitably recovered and recycled by the private sector; automotive materials recycling is a success story. To achieve greater fuel efficiency and safety, today’s cars incorporate an increasing share of innovative light-weight materials. While these materials greatly enhance efficiency during vehicle use, they can present special challenges for recycling. These challenges will persist as automotive designs and the mix of materials used in vehicles continue evolving to further improve safety and performance. To meet the challenges of automotive materials recycling, the U.S. Department of Energy has recently expanded its collaborative research with industry in this area. This article discusses this collaborative government/industry approach to sustainable end-of-life vehicle recycling. For more information, contact Edward J. Daniels, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Building 362, Room C393, Argonne, IL 60439-4815; (630) 252-5279; fax (630) 252-1342; e-mail edaniels@anl.gov.     

Analytical and experimental study of shear localization in chip formation in orthogonal machining

A simplified theory of instability of plastic flow is applied to analyze the formation of shear localized chips in orthogonal machining. A flow localization parameter is expressed in terms of associated cutting conditions and properties of the workpiece material. The analysis, which indicates the important parameters in the cutting process, is used to investigate the effect of cutting conditions on the onset of shear localization and the formation of adiabatic shear banding in metal cutting. Comparisons are made between the analysis and experiments in which the flow localization parameter is obtained for several workpiece materials. The results of this investigation seem to support the analysis and its potential benefits in analyzing and/or remedying problems associated with chip formation and temperature generated in metal cutting. Presently at Advanced Technology Center, Valenite, Inc., Madison Heights,MI 48071, USA     

Characterization of microstructure of Nano-TiO2 coating deposited by vacuum cold spraying

Control of the microstructure of TiO₂ coatings through preparation methods significantly influences the coating performance. In this study, a vacuum cold-spray process, as a new coating technology, is used to deposit nanocrystalline TiO₂ coatings on conducting glass and stainless steel substrates. TiO₂ deposits were formed using two types of nanocrystalline TiO₂ powders with mean particle diameters of 200 and 25 nm. Coating microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis. Results demonstrate that a thick nanocrystalline TiO₂ coating can be deposited by the vacuum cold-spray process. The coating was found to consist of particles stacked as agglomerates that build up to several hundred nanometers. The coating also presents a mesoporous microstructure that could be effective in such applications as photocatalytic degradation and dye-sensitized solar cells. This article was originally published inBuilding on 100 Years of Success, Proceedings of the 2006 International Thermal Spray Conference (Seattle, WA), May 15–18, 2006, B.R. Marple, M.M. Hyland, Y.-Ch. Lau, R.S. Lima, and J. Voyer, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 2006.     

Microstructure and properties of TiB/Ti-6Al-4V coatings produced with laser treatments

TiB/Ti-6Al-4V metal-matrix composite (MMC) layers were produced on Ti-6Al-4V substrates by laser cladding. A TiB₂/Ti powder mixture was used as a precursor to obtain a dispersion of TiB needles in the Ti alloy matrix, with the aid of an exothermic reaction between TiB₂ and Ti. A eutectic microstructure was obtained that consisted of an extremely homogeneous dispersion of TiB eutectic needles in the Ti alloy matrix, having a volume fraction as high as 0.33. Also, an equilibrium-like microstructure was found, consisting of a dispersion of both primary and eutectic TiB needles inside the Ti alloy matrix. An analysis of the geometry of the layers was performed and proved successful in determining the percentage of B. Further, it correctly predicted the variation of atomic B content as a function of laser power. The relative wear resistance coefficient, defined as the wear coefficient of the uncoated matrix divided by that of coating, shows an improvement by a factor as high as 1500 for the eutectic microstructure. This paper was presented at the 2nd International Surface Engineering Congress sponsored by ASM International, on September 15–17, 2003, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and appeared on pp. 411–18 of the Proceedings.     

The real-time,high-resolution x-ray video microscopy of solidification in aluminum alloys

The directional solidification of thin alloy sheets in a Bridgman furnace has been studied by x-radiography using high-brilliance synchrotron x-radiation in combination with a low-noise, fast-readout camera. Spatial resolutions down to 1.5 μm and a temporal resolution of about 0.15 s have permitted real-time video microscopy of microstructural evolution during columnar and equiaxed dendrite growth and eutectic and monotectic growth. The technique has also allowed for direct observations of important solidification phenomena such as dendrite fragmentation and porosity formation, primarily in aluminium alloys. As a result, insights have been gained into mechanisms of dendrite fragmentation, criteria for dendrite tip kinetics and interface stability during transient growth, and microstructure formation mechanisms during monotectic solidification. The results are expected to be important for validation of dendrite growth models. This paper presents a review of the technique as well as examples of images obtained during solidification of aluminum alloys.     

Effect of joint design on mechanical properties of AL7075 weldment

The effects of joint design on the mechanical properties of AL7075-T6 aluminum sheet were studied on the latest automated gas-tungsten arc-welding system. Using ER5356 filler metal, full-penetration welds were made on workpieces with various included joint angles. Testing of the mechanical properties of the joints was done in the as-welded, naturally aged, and postweld heat-treated conditions. The results show that by using crack-resistant filler, and by selecting the proper joint design and postweld heat treatment, strong, dependable welds can be produced on thin AL7075 sheet material. An elasticity model of the weld joint was established to help understand the mechanical behavior of the joints. An undermatched joint design is shown to be capable of achieving a joint strength that matches the strength of the base alloy.