Characterisation and tribological evaluation of nitrogen-containing molybdenum–copper PVD metallic nanocomposite films

This paper reports on the structural, mechanical and tribological properties of molybdenum–copper nanocomposite films ‘doped’ with small amounts of nitrogen, which contain either no nitride phase (i.e. the nitrogen is held in interstitial solid solution, mainly in molybdenum) or small amounts of lower nitrides (i.e. Mo₂N). All films were deposited on Si wafers, AISI M2 high speed steel and AISI 316 stainless steel by reactive sputtering using a hot-filament-enhanced dc unbalanced magnetron system. A systematic approach was adopted to investigate the evolution of metal/metal and ceramic/metal phase combinations with increasing nitrogen content (up to 40 at.% N) in the film. Coating composition and microstructure were determined by cross-sectional TEM, SEM and XPS. XRD was used to identify (where possible) metallic and metal-nitride phases. Mechanical properties such as hardness and elastic modulus were determined by low load Knoop and instrumented Vickers indentation measurements. Reciprocating sliding, micro-abrasion and impact tests were performed to assess tribological performance.

It was found that increasing the nitrogen gas flow rate from 0 to 15 sccm (and therefore nitrogen content in the film from 0 to 24 at.% N), refined significantly the coating microstructure from columnar to a dense and more equiaxed morphology, increasing the hardness whilst maintaining (almost constant) elastic modulus values, close to that of molybdenum metal. Further increases in the nitrogen gas flow rate resulted in films that appeared to contain significant fractions of the Mo₂N ceramic phase. SEM and cross-sectional TEM analyses of the film deposited at a nitrogen flow rate of 20 sccm (containing 36 at.% N) demonstrated a microstructure consisting of 50–100 nm wide columns, which contain small regions of contrast in dark-field images, of the order of 3–5 nm wide. A maximum hardness of 32 GPa and the highest hardness/modulus ratio was however found in the (predominantly metallic) film deposited at a nitrogen gas flow rate of 15 sccm. This film also performed best in both micro-abrasion and impact wear tests; in contrast, the ‘ceramic’ film (deposited at 20 sccm nitrogen flow rate) performed better in reciprocating sliding wear.     

Erosion of oxide scales formed on Cr3C2-NiCr thermal spray coatings

Cr₃C₂-NiCr thermal spray coatings are extensively used to mitigate high temperature erosive wear in fluidised bed combustors and power generation/transport turbines. The aim of this work was to characterise the variation in oxide erosion response as a function of the Cr₃C₂-NiCr coating microstructure. Erosion was carried out at 700 °C and 800 °C with erodent impact velocities of 225-235 m/s. The erosion behaviour of the oxide scales formed on these coatings, was influenced by the coating microstructure and erosion temperature. Development of the carbide microstructure with extended heat treatment lead to variations in the erosion-corrosion response of the Cr₃C₂-NiCr coatings.     

The Effect of Heat Treatment on the Oxidation Mechanism of Blended Powder Cr3C2-NiCr Coatings

The advantageous oxidation and wear properties of Cr₃C₂-NiCr thermal spray coatings have resulted in them being extensively applied to combat erosion at high temperatures. Under these conditions, oxide layers take on an ever more significant role in determining the composite response. The response of blended powder-based carbide coatings for erosion applications has formed the basis for application of cermet-based coatings at elevated temperature. In this study, the oxidation mechanisms of as-sprayed and heat-treated Cr₃C₂-NiCr blended powder-based coatings are characterized. Interdiffusion between the coating phases with long-term exposure increased the Cr content of the matrix phase. This had a significant effect on the oxidation mechanism. The implications of the change in oxidation mechanism and oxide morphology on the coating response to high-temperature erosion are discussed.     

Surface characterisation of DC plasma electrolytic oxidation treated 6082 aluminium alloy: Effect of current density and electrolyte concentration

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is a specialised but well-developed process which has found applications in aerospace, oil/gas, textile, chemical, electrical and biomedical sectors. A novel range of coatings having technologically attractive physical and chemical properties (e.g. wear- and corrosion-resistance) can be produced by suitable control of the electrolyte as well as electrical parameters of the PEO process. Oxide ceramic films, 3 to 40 μm thick, were produced on 6082 aluminium alloy by DC PEO using 5 to 20 A/dm² current density in KOH electrolyte with varied concentration (0.5 to 2.0 g/l). Phase analysis (composition and crystallite size) was carried out using X-ray diffraction and TEM techniques. Residual stresses associated with the crystalline coating phase (α-Al₂O₃) were evaluated using the X-ray diffraction Sin²ψ method. Nanoindentation studies were conducted to evaluate the hardness and elastic modulus. SEM, SPM and TEM techniques were utilised to study surface as well as cross-sectional morphology and nano features of the PEO coatings. Correlations between internal stress and coating thickness, surface morphology and phase composition are discussed. It was found that, depending on the current density and electrolyte concentration used, internal direct and shear stresses in DC PEO alumina coatings ranged from − 302 ± 19 MPa to − 714 ± 22 MPa and − 25 ± 12 MPa to − 345 ± 27 MPa, respectively. Regimes of PEO treatment favourable for the production of thicker coatings with minimal stress level, dense morphology and relatively high content of α-Al₂O₃ phase are identified.     

PEO coatings obtained on an Mg-Mn type alloy under unipolar and bipolar modes in silicate-containing electrolytes

Protective surface layers with high corrosion resistance (R_p = 3.3·105 ohm cm²) and significant microhardness (H = 4.8 GPa), as compared to the substrate material, were obtained on MA8 magnesium alloy by bipolar Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) in a silicate-fluoride electrolyte. The phase and elemental composition and morphology of the coatings were investigated. It was found that the application of the bipolar PEO mode enables one to synthesise on the alloy's surface a high-temperature phase of magnesium silicate, forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) having good anticorrosion and mechanical properties.     

二氧化氯生产方法和装置

叙述了二氧化氯的生产装置,包括圆柱形绝缘主体管;横截面为多边形,具有３层结构的中空内侧对应电极柱,筛状导电管夹在２个导电柱之间,该导电柱由多孔陶瓷和金属粉末的混合物组成;圆柱形外侧对置电极嵌在上述主体管中,其３层结构的组成材料与内侧对应电极柱相同;臭氧检测传感器;二氧化氯检测传感器;电压差传感器开关;中空内侧对置电极柱与外侧电极柱同轴,在应用电场内都产生不均衡的电流密度。介绍了在上述装置中生成二氧     

Sugar fatty acid ester surfactants: Structure and ultimate aerobic biodegradability

Ultimate aerobic biodegradabilities of an array of sugar ester surfactants were determined by International Standards Organisation method 7827, “Water Quality—Evaluation in an Aqueous Medium of the Aerobic Biodegradability of Organic Compounds, Method by Dissolved Organic Carbon” (1984). The surfactants were nonionic sugar esters with different-sized sugar head groups (formed from glucose, sucrose, or raffinose) and different lengths and numbers of alkyl chains [formed from lauric (C₁₂) or palmitic (C₁₆) acid]. Analogous anionic sugar ester surfactants, formed by attaching an α-sulfonyl group adjacent to the ester bond, and sugar esters with α-alkyl substituents were also studied. It was found that variations in sugar head group size or in alkyl chain length and number do not significantly affect biodegradability. In contrast, the biodegradation rate of sugar esters with α-sulfonyl or α-alkyl groups, although sufficient for them to be classified as readily biodegradable, was dramatically reduced compared to that of the unsubstituted sugar esters. An understanding of the relationship between structure and biodegradability provided by the results of this study will aid the targeted design of readily biodegradable sugar ester surfactants for use in consumer products.     

Optimization of Arc-Sprayed Ni-Cr-Ti Coatings for High Temperature Corrosion Applications

High Cr content Ni-Cr-Ti arc-spray coatings have proven successful in resisting the high temperature sulfidizing conditions found in black liquor recovery boilers in the pulp and paper industry. The corrosion resistance of the coatings is dependent upon the coating composition, to form chromium sulfides and oxides to seal the coating, and on the coating microstructure. Selection of the arc-spray parameters influences the size, temperature and velocity of the molten droplets generated during spraying, which in turn dictates the coating composition and formation of the critical coating microstructural features—splat size, porosity and oxide content. Hence it is critical to optimize the arc-spray parameters in order to maximize the corrosion resistance of the coating. In this work the effect of key spray parameters (current, voltage, spray distance and gas atomizing pressure) on the coating splat thickness, porosity content, oxide content, microhardness, thickness, and surface profile were investigated using a full factorial design of experiment. Based on these results a set of oxidized, porous and optimized coatings were prepared and characterized in detail for follow-up corrosion testing.     

The Prominin-1-Derived Peptide Improves Cardiac Function Following Ischemia

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains the leading cause of death in the western world. Despite advancements in interventional revascularization technologies, many patients are not candidates for them due to comorbidities or lack of local resources. Non-invasive approaches to accelerate revascularization within ischemic tissues through angiogenesis by providing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in protein or gene form has been effective in animal models but not in humans likely due to its short half-life and systemic toxicity. Here, we tested the hypothesis that PR1P, a small VEGF binding peptide that we developed, which stabilizes and upregulates endogenous VEGF, could be used to improve outcome from MI in rodents. To test this hypothesis, we induced MI in mice and rats via left coronary artery ligation and then treated animals with every other day intraperitoneal PR1P or scrambled peptide for 14 days. Hemodynamic monitoring and echocardiography in mice and echocardiography in rats at 14 days showed PR1P significantly improved multiple functional markers of heart function, including stroke volume and cardiac output. Furthermore, molecular biology and histological analyses of tissue samples showed that systemic PR1P targeted, stabilized and upregulated endogenous VEGF within ischemic myocardium. We conclude that PR1P is a potential non-invasive candidate therapeutic for MI.