Microstructural effects on the tensile properties and deformation behavior of a Ti-48Al gamma titanium aluminide

The effects of microstructure on the tensile properties and deformation behavior of a binary Ti-48Al gamma titanium aluminide were studied. Tensile-mechanical properties of samples with microstructures ranging from near γ to duplex to fine grained, near- and fully-lamellar were determined at a range of temperatures, and the deformation structures in these characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microstructure was observed to exert a strong influence on the tensile properties, with the grain size and lamellar volume fraction playing connected, but complex, roles. Acoustic emission response monitored during the tensile test revealed spikes whose amplitude and frequency increased with an increase in the volume fraction of lamellar grains in the microstructure. Analysis of failed samples suggested that microcracking was the main factor responsible for the spikes, with twinning providing a minor contribution in the near-lamellar materials. The most important factor that controls ductility of these alloys is grain size. The ductility, yield stress, and work-hardening rate of the binary Ti-48Al alloy exhibit maximum values between 0.50 and 0.60 volume fraction of the lamellar constituent. The high work-hardening rate, which is associated with the low mobility of dislocations, is the likely cause of low ductility of these alloys. In the near-γ and duplex structures, slip by motion of 1/2<110] unit dislocations and twinning are the prevalent deformation modes at room temperature (RT), whereas twinning is more common in the near- and fully-lamellar structures. The occurrence of twinning is largely dictated by the Schmid factor. The 1/2<110] unit dislocations are prevalent even for grain orientations for which the Schmid factor is higher for <101] superdislocations, though the latter are observed in favorably oriented grains. The activity of both of these systems is responsible for the higher ductility at ambient temperatures compared with Al-rich single-phase γ alloys. A higher twin density is observed in lamellar grains, but their propagation depends on the orientation and geometry of the individual γ lamellae. The increase in ductility at high temperatures correlates with increased activity of 1/2<110] dislocations (including their climb motion) and twin thickening. The role of microstructural variables on strength, ductility, and fracture are discussed. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Fundamentals of Structural Intermetallics,” presented at the 2002 TMS Annual Meeting, February 21–27, 2002, in Seattle, Washington, under the auspices of the ASM and TMS Joint Committee on Mechanical Behavior of Materials.     

Permeability measurements of the flow of interdendritic liquid in equiaxed aluminum-silicon alloys

A method developed recently for measuring instantaneous permeability in the mushy zone of aluminum-copper alloys is used to measure permeability in aluminum-silicon alloys. Permeability was also measured in packed glass beads using water, because measurements could be conducted in the absence of microstructural coarsening. Experimental data are compared with the Kozeny-Carman equation to determine the value of k _C , the Kozeny-Carman constant. The results indicate that when k _C =5.0, all the instantaneous permeability data agree well with the Kozeny-Carman equation. Factors affecting the accuracy of permeability measurements, such as surface oxidation of the sample, flow channeling during the test, microstructural coarsening, and liquid fraction reduction due to back diffusion in the solid are discussed. An experimental technique that minimizes errors due to these factors is outlined.     

Analysis of the mechanism of die soldering in aluminum die casting

A mechanism of soldering of an aluminum alloy die casting to a steel die is proposed. A soldering critical temperature is postulated, at which iron begins to react with aluminum to form an aluminum-rich liquid phase and solid intermetallic compounds. The liquid joins the die with the casting upon solidification. The critical temperature is determined by the elements in both the casting alloy and the die material and is equal to the solidus temperature of the resulting alloy. The critical temperature is used to predict the onset of die soldering, and the local liquid fraction is related to the soldering tendency. Experiments have been carried out to validate the concept and to determine the critical temperature for die soldering in an iron-aluminum system. Thermodynamic calculations are used to determine the critical temperature and soldering tendency for the cases of pure aluminum and a 380 alloy in a steel mold. Factors affecting the soldering tendency are discussed, and methods for reducing die soldering are suggested.     

Precipitation hardening in 350 grade maraging steel

Evolution of microstructure in a 350 grade commercial maraging steel has been examined. In the earlier stages of aging, the strengthening phases are formed by the heterogeneous precipitation, and these phases have been identified as intermetallic compounds of the Ni₃ (Ti, Mo) and Fe₂Mo types. The kinetics of precipitation are studied in terms of the activation energy by carrying out isothermal hardness measurements of aged material. The mechanical properties in the peak-aged and overaged conditions were evaluated and the flow behavior examined. The overaging behavior of the steel has been studied and the formation of austenite of different morphologies identified. The crystallography of the austenite has been examined in detail. From the microstructural examination of peak-aged and deformed samples, it could be inferred that the dislocation-precipitate interaction is by precipitate shearing. Increased work hardening of the material in the overaged condition was suggestive of looping of precipitates by dislocations.     

Effects of humidity and temperature on in vitro dissolution of carbamazepine tablets

The rate and extent of dissolution of various approved marketed carbamazepine (CBZ) tablets exposed to 33, 52, 75, and 97% relative humidities at both room temperature and 40 degrees C, and saturated water vapor at room temperature were compared to fresh unstressed tablets. The dissolution data indicate that exposure of CBZ tablets to high humidity and temperature can have a profound effect on tablet disintegration and dissolution. The dissolution rates of some batches of CBZ products exposed to 97% humidity at 40 degrees C or saturated water vapor at room temperature were drastically reduced in only 6-7 days.     

Localization of angiotensin AT1 receptors in the rat heart conduction system

We characterized angiotensin II receptor subtypes in the conduction system of the rat heart using quantitative autoradiography. In both the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes, binding could be totally displaced by losartan, and was insensitive to PD 123177, indicating that angiotensin II receptors in the conduction system of the rat heart belong to the AT1 subtype. Angiotensin AT1 receptors could play a direct role in the regulation of the heart chronotropic properties.     

Activation energy determination from low-temperature CV dispersion[semiconductor devices]

The response of semiconductor devices at low temperatures to changes in the voltage across the depletion region is limited by the dielectric relaxation time of the majority carriers in the bulk region. This results in a dispersion of the C-V curves at low temperatures. In this paper, we report a study of the dispersion seen in the accumulation and depletion regions of the C-V curve in n- and p-channel MOS transistors as well as in reverse biased one-sided abrupt junctions. From the admittance measured as a function of temperature and frequency, the dopant energy level is determined. The values of the activation energy measured using the diodes agree well with the corresponding values obtained using MOS devices     

Strong quantum confinement effect in nanocrystalline cerium oxide

Highly uniform and well-dispersed cerium oxide quantum dots were successfully synthesized by simple precipitation method by using cerium ammonium nitrate and ammonium hydroxide as precursor materials with suitable conditions. The X-ray diffraction pattern indicates the formation of cubic phase CeO₂. The average particle size of cerium oxide from high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was found to be 3 nm. The X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectrum confirms the presence of Ce³⁺ in CeO₂. Optical studies by UV–vis spectroscopy for the synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles exhibit a blue shift (E_g = 3.78 eV) with respect to the bulk material (E_g = 3.15 eV) due to quantum confined exciton absorption.