Crack path morphology in dual-phase steel

Intercritical heat treatment (ICHT) and thermomechanical processing (TMP) were used on steel having 0.16% C to vary the morphology, distribution of ferrite, and martensite phases, in order to study the resistance to fatigue crack propagation and crack path morphology in dual-phase steel. A crack growth rate has been determined at ∼10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻³ m per cycle in ICHT and TMP samples. The tortuous morphology of the crack path was observed in unrolled materials, which resulted in reduction of the crack driving force from crack deflection and increased the ΔK _th. In thermomechanical processed materials, the crack tended to cross the martensite and the crack path become less circuitous, resulting in decrease a threshold stress intensity factor (ΔK _th) as compared with unrolled material.     

A novel infinite 1D covalent chain of end-to-end thiocyanato bridged heptacoordinated cadmium(II)Schiff base: π…π interaction and weak C–H…S hydrogen bonded supramolecule

A new Schiff base, N,N′-(bis(pyridin-2-yl)formylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine (bpfd) is prepared and used to synthesize a novel end-to-end thiocyanato bridged infinite 1D polymeric heptacoordinated cadmium(II) chain [Cd(bpfd)(μ_1,3-NCS)(NCS)]_n (1) which forms a 3D supramolecule through weak C–H…S hydrogen bonding and π…π interaction.     

Ultrafine grain refinement in a low alloy steel

The phenomenon of grain refinement was studied in a steel containing 0.15% C, 0.32% Si, 1.4% Mn, and 0.43% V. Initial austenite grain size was found to be 50 μm, determined by quenching the specimen in an iced brine solution from 1150 °C. Transformational grain refinement (TGR) was applied to give a reasonable refinement in the grain size. A rolling reduction of about 67% was given to specimens at 900 °C, which was followed by air cooling. Cold rolling and recrystallization of these specimens gave refinement of grains down to 1 μm size was obtained. The electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique was used to determine low- and high-angle grain boundaries that are effectively used to determine the substructure contribution at various stages of recrystallization.     

Properties of PVC-titania hybrid materials prepared by the sol-gel process

Hybrid materials from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and titania were prepared using sol-gel technique. In-situ generation of titania network in the PVC matrix was carried out by introducing required amounts of tetrapropylorthotitanate (TPOT) followed by hydrolysis/condensation of TPOT in the matrix. Homogeneous and semi-transparent films were obtained by casting and solvent evaporation. Mechanical properties of these films up to 15 wt. % titania contents were studied. The results showed an increase in the Young's modulus, length at rupture and toughness of the unplasticised PVC. However, the tensile strength and stress at break point decreased with the addition of titania contents. Thermal stability of the material was studied using dehydrochlorination (DHCl) technique and thermogravimetric analysis. The PVC samples with small amount of titania were found to be more stable as compared with the pure PVC. Received: 13 October 1997/Revised version: 22 January 1998/Accepted: 2 February 1998