Characterization of transient oxide formation on CoNiCrAlY after heat treatment in vacuum and air

The application of thin film sensors on hot section components of gas turbine engines requires the formation a specific and complex layered structure that is functional, reliable, and durable. In the case of conducting substrates, such as the nickel- or cobalt-based superalloys, an electrically-insulating layer (typically aluminum oxide) is required between the sensing layer elements and the substrate. In order to achieve suitable bonding of alumina to the substrate, a MCrAlY type bond coat is commonly applied to the metallic substrate and the subsequent formation of dense, adherent oxide(s) on the MCrAlY coating surface can ultimately determine the durability of the layered structure. In this work, test specimens consisting of a high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) CoNiCrAlY coated nickel-base substrate were subjected to selected vacuum and air furnace heat treatments in order to observe the effects of the heat treatments on the transient oxide formation on the CoNiCrAlY surface. The surfaces and cross-sectional features of the test specimens were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry analysis (EDS), together with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Of the heat treatment conditions examined, the vacuum heat treated CoNiCrAlY specimens exhibited the formation of a denser alumina layer while the air furnace heat treatments resulted in a more ridge-like alumina formation on the surface. Increasing heat treatment temperature and time reduced the amount of transition metal oxide and encouraged more uniform alumina formation.     

New anti-corrosive painting technologies at the beginning of the 21st century

The aim of this work is to provide a general overview of current trends in anti-corrosive painting technologies for steel and galvanized steel substrates. After some considerations of important aspects inherent to the environment and humans and to competitiveness and quality, a summary of new painting technologies is given, in particular solvent-free liquid paints, powder paints, water-based paints, and radiation-cured paints. As a complement to this, mention is made of specific aspects concerning galvanized steel and application technologies, such as cataphoresis and autophoresis. Finally, some references are presented concerning the short- and mid-term future of anti-corrosive painting technologies. LTR- Laboratório de Tintas e Revestimentos, INETI, Estrada do Pa?o do Lumiar, 1649-038 LISBON, Portugal.     

Carbon dioxide reforming of ethanol over Ni/Y2O3–ZrO2 catalysts

Supported nickel catalysts of composition Ni/Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ were synthesized in one step by the polymerization method and compared with a nickel catalyst prepared by wet impregnation. Stronger interactions were observed in the formed catalysts between NiO species and the oxygen vacancies of the Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ in the catalysts made by polymerization, and these were attributed to less agglomeration of the NiO during the synthesis of the catalysts in one step. The dry reforming of ethanol was catalyzed with a maximum CO₂ conversion of 61% on the 5NiYZ catalyst at 800 °C, representing a better response than for the catalyst of the same composition prepared by wet impregnation.     

Fractal Extra-Framework Species in De-aluminated LaY Zeolites and Their Catalytic Activity

Lanthanum-containing Y (LaY) zeolites were prepared by ionic exchange from NaY parent zeolite. The LaY zeolites were de-aluminated by steaming. De-aluminated zeolites presented different Si/Al ratio. The physicochemical properties of these catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, pyridine and xenon adsorption, infrared spectroscopy and ²⁹Si, ²⁷Al, ¹²⁹Xe, ¹³⁹La solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Furthermore, a fractal geometry approach was adopted to describe the evolution in the texture as a consequence of de-alumination. The catalytic properties of materials were evaluated in the n-hexane cracking reaction. The catalyst with the highest catalytic activity was the zeolite highest de-aluminated (Si/Al ratio of 3.7). Such performance was attributed on the one hand, to active extra-framework aluminum species hosted in the large cavities of zeolites and, on the other hand to redistribution of lanthanum species into the zeolite as a consequence of de-alumination.     

Nutritional Value of Seven Freshwater Fish Species From the Brazilian Pantanal

This study determined the proximate composition and fatty acid profile of the lipid fraction in muscle tissue (fillet) of seven fish species from the Miranda River, Brazil. Total lipid content had the largest coefficient of variation among species (73%), while protein content had the smallest (4.5%), allowing Pimelodus argenteus (mandi-prateado) to be categorized as lean fish; Pimelodus maculatus (mandi-amarelo), Hemisorubim platyrhynchos (jurupoca), and Pinirampus pirinampu (barbado) as species with medium fat content, and Paulicea luetkeni (jaú) and Surubim lima (jurupensém) as fatty fish. In all the species investigated, palmitic acid (23.76–25.99%) was the predominant saturated fatty acid. Oleic acid (16.09–32.90%) was the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid. Total omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.99–15.56%) were the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acids, except in Ageneiosus brevifilis (palmito), in which total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated (10.30%). All the species had favorable indices of nutritional quality for total lipids, with respect to human consumption.     

CalDAG-GEFI Deficiency in a Family with Symptomatic Heterozygous and Homozygous Carriers of a Likely Pathogenic Variant in RASGRP2

RASGRP2 encodes the calcium and diacylglycerol (DAG)-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factor I (CalDAG-GEFI) identified as a Rap1-activating molecule. Pathogenic variants previously identified in RASGRP2 allowed the characterization of CalDAG-GEFI deficiency as a non-syndromic, autosomal recessive platelet function disease. We report on the clinical manifestations and laboratory features of a Portuguese family with a likely pathogenic variant in RASGRP2 (c.999G>C leading to a p.Lys333Asn change in the CDC25 catalytic domain of CalDAG-GEFI) and discuss the contribution of this variant to the disease manifestations. Based on the study of this family with one homozygous patient and five heterozygous carriers and on a critical analysis of the literature, we challenge previous knowledge that CalDAG-GEFI deficiency only manifests in homozygous patients. Our data suggest that at least for the RASGRP2 variant reported herein, there is a phenotypic expression, albeit milder, in heterozygous carriers.     

Ni-65wt%Nb alloy by aluminothermic reduction process

Ni–Nb alloys have been used as master-alloy in the production of Ni-based superalloys containing niobium. In the case of INCONEL 718, the most used superalloy, the niobium content is in the range 5.0–5.5 wt%. The aim of this work is to present results related to the production of Ni-65wt%Nb alloy by aluminothermic reduction process. Two different reactant mixtures were used: Nb₂O₅ + Ni + Al and Nb₂O₅ + NiO + Al. For each type of mixture the Al excess was varied from 0% to 15% over the stoichiometric amount. All the alloys were produced in a bulk form with Nb and Ni composition according to specifications. The best results came from the experiments involving mixtures of Nb₂O₅ + NiO + Al, where an overall metallic yield of 86% was obtained. The alloys produced from Nb₂O₅ + Ni + Al mixtures showed low metallic yields and high oxygen contents associated to the presence of a niobium oxide-phase in the microstructure.     

Corrosion performance of waterborne coatings for structural steel

Among recently developed waterborne coatings, epoxy and acrylic based coatings have a special place. To study this kind of anticorrosive coatings, use is normally made of natural exposure and laboratory tests. The literature has recently reported that the salt spray test is not suitable for selecting/studying anticorrosive waterborne coatings. In this paper, the authors present the main results obtained in an experimental study involving laboratory tests and natural exposure in two atmospheric test sites of different corrosivity categories. The natural exposure and accelerated tests are complemented by other measurements in the laboratory, involving water uptake, adhesion and electrochemical measurements, to understand the anticorrosive performance of the paint systems under study. As accelerated tests, salt spray and prohesion were used. Indirect measurements of adhesion were made using cross-cut and pull-off tests. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and noise (EN) were used for electrochemical characterization. The study concludes that the best anticorrosive behaviour was shown by epoxy-polyamide paint systems, including zinc-rich primers. The correlation between the results of salt spray and natural exposure in marine test sites was significantly better than that obtained using the prohesion test. The electrochemical results showed that it is very important to pay special attention when interpreting this kind of results.     

Catalytic activity evaluation for hydrogen production via autothermal reforming of methane

A nickel catalyst (5.75 wt.%) supported on gamma-alumina was evaluated through autothermal reforming of methane (ATR). The reforming process was pointed to hydrogen production, following thermodynamic and stoichiometric predictions. The catalyst was characterised by several methods including atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), B.E.T.-N₂, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal analyses (thermogravimetry, TG; derivate thermogravimetry, DTG; and differential thermal analysis, DTA). Experimental evaluations in a fixed-bed reactor (1023–1123 K, 1.00 bar, 150–400 cm³/min feed) presented methane conversions in the range of 40–65%. The effluent mixtures provided hydrogen yields in the range of 78–84%, carbon monoxide 3–14%, and carbon dioxide 5–18%. High molar H₂/CO ratios, ranging from 8 to 90, were obtained. Operating autothermal conditions (excess of steam, 1023–1123 K, 1.00 bar) provided low coke formation and high hydrogen selectivity (81%) for methane reforming.     

Engineering HVOF-Sprayed Cr3C2-NiCr Coatings: The Effect of Particle Morphology and Spraying Parameters on the Microstructure, Properties, and High Temperature Wear Performance

Chromium carbide-based thermally sprayed coatings are widely used for high temperature wear applications (typical temperature range from 540 to 900 °C). In these extreme environments at those temperatures, several phenomena will degrade, oxidize, and change the microstructure of the coatings, thereby affecting their wear behavior. Although it can be easily conceived that the Cr₃C₂-NiCr coating microstructure evolution after high temperature exposure will depend on the as-sprayed microstructure and spraying parameters, very little has been done in this regard. This study intends to develop a better understanding of the effect of spraying parameters on the resulting chromium carbide coating microstructure after high temperature operation and high temperature sliding wear properties. The microstructures of different coatings produced from two morphologies of Cr₃C₂-NiCr powders and under a window of in-flight particle temperature and velocity values were characterized through x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Sliding wear at 800 °C was performed and the wear behavior correlated with the spraying parameters and coating microstructure. Vickers microhardness (300 gf) of the coatings before and after sliding wear was also measured.