Effect of Si addition to CrN coatings on the corrosion resistance of CrN/stainless steel coating/substrate system in a deaerated 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution

CrSiN coatings with different Si concentration (Si/(Cr + Si) ratio: 0, 3.7, 11.7, 20%) were deposited on stainless steel substrates using a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering (CFUBM) system. The variation in the microstructure of the films with the Si concentration was measured by XRD. The corrosion behavior of the CrSiN coatings in a deaerated 3.5% NaCl solution was investigated by potentiodynamic tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and surface analyses. The microstructure of the CrSiN film was found to depend on the Si concentration. The results of the potentiodynamic polarization tests showed that the corrosion current density and porosity decreased with increasing Si/(Cr + Si) ratio. The EIS measurements showed that the corrosion resistance of the Si-bearing CrN was improved by the phase transformation of the film, which led to an increase in the pore resistance and charge transfer resistance. The Si-bearing CrN possesses the best corrosion resistance at a Si/(Cr + Si) ratio of 20%, measured by the maximization of the pore resistance and charge transfer resistance.     

The effect of rate sensitivity on history dependent forming limits of anisotropic sheet metals

history dependent forming limits of sheet metals are computed by examining the role of rate sensitivity of flow stress in forming limits for anisotropic materials. Assuming that necking or nonuniform deformation is caused by initial heterogeneity, the forming limits are computed by considering the flow theory and incorporating an isotropic hardening model for anisotropic materials. Representative results show some of the trends for changing forming limits with different parameters under complex nonproportional loading histories. The computed results agree well with published experimental data for different loading history, anisotropy, and rate sensitivity of sheet materials.     

Effects of intermetallic compound on the electrical and mechanical properties of friction welded Cu/Al bimetallic joints during annealing

Al/Cu metal joints applied for the electrical connector was joined by the friction welding method to limit the formation of intermetallic compound under optimum friction welding condition. To guarantee the reliability of the Al/Cu joints in service requirement, the effects of the intermetallic compound layer on the electrical and mechanical properties have been investigated under various annealing conditions. Two kinds of intermetallic compounds layer were formed in the joints interface and identified by AlCu and Al₂Cu. The growth kinetic of these intermetallics during the annealing can be followed by volume diffusion process. The activation energy of Al₂Cu, AlCu and total intermetallic compound (AlCu + Al₂Cu) represented 107.5, 98.42 and 110.22 kJ/mol, respectively. A thicker intermetallic compound layers could seriously degrade the electrical resistivity and tensile strength. The electrical resistivity with 21 μm thickness of intermetallic compound was 45 μΩ cm and increased to be 85 μΩ cm with 107 μm of intermetallic compound. Tensile strength remarkably decreased from 85 MPa to near zero at the annealing condition of 773 K and 129.6 ks and fracture occurred through the intermetallic compound layers.     

Computer generation of phase diagrams and the associated free energy curves for a binary system

An interactive computer program is introduced in order to make a simultaneous graphical presentation of phase boundaries and their corresponding free energy curves. The program, which uses a graphics display terminal, is a useful tool in teaching thermodynamic concepts involved in phase diagrams, especially for undergraduate students.     

A modified embedded-atom method interatomic potential for the Fe–H system

A modified embedded-atom method (MEAM) interatomic potential for the Fe–H binary system has been developed using previously developed MEAM potentials of Fe and H. The potential parameters were determined by fitting to experimental data on the dilute heat of solution of hydrogen in body-centered cubic (bcc) and face-centered cubic (fcc) Fe, the vacancy–hydrogen binding energy in bcc Fe, and to a first-principles calculation for the lattice parameter and bulk modulus of a hypothetical NaCl-type FeH. The potential accurately reproduces the known physical properties of hydrogen as an interstitial solute element in bcc and fcc Fe. The applicability of the potential to atomistic approaches for investigating interactions between hydrogen atoms and other defects such as vacancies, dislocations and grain boundaries, and also for investigating the effects of hydrogen on various deformation and mechanical behaviors of iron is demonstrated.     

Potassium channels: a computer prediction of structure and selectivity

Model structures for the pore of the potassium channels Shakerand ROMK1 are predicted. The models arise from computer simulationsand suggest reasons for the striking selectivity of these channelsfor K+ and the blocking of ROMK1 by internal Mg²⁺. The modelledstructure of the Shaker pore is supported by mutagenesis data.The mutagenesis experiments indicate the side chains responsiblefor binding to blocking agents [tetraethylammonium (TEA) andcharybdotoxin (CTX)] and the model has these side chains suitablyoriented for binding. An aromatic K+ binding site part way downthe pore is also predicted by the Shaker pore model.     

Reaction of Iradium with Metal Carbides in the Temperature Range of 1923 to 2400 K

The reactions of titanium carbide and hafnium carbide with iridium have been studied in thin film couples fabricated by vapor deposition processes. The reaction product layers after exposure in the temperature range of 1923 to 2400 K are dependent on the stoichiometry of the metal carbide layers and range from simple solid solutions to MIr_x compounds. The observed microstructures are predictable from available thermochemical data. The morphology of residual carbon in the reacted metal carbide-iridium product layer varies from interfacial deposits to uniform carbon dispersion and depends upon exposure temperature and metal carbide stoichiometry.     

Unsteady extinction mechanism of nonpremixed flame interacting with a vortex

The extinction mechanism of a CH₄/N₂-air counterflow nonpremixed flame interacting with a single vortex was numerically studied. An augmented reduced mechanism was used to treat the CH₄ oxidation reactions. The contribution of each term in the energy and the OH species equations were evaluated to investigate the unsteady extinction mechanism of nonpremixed flame. The flame temperature began to decrease due to the convection heat loss when the flame interacted with a vortex. The investigation of the radical behavior during the flame-vortex interaction process also provided useful information on the unsteady extinction mechanism. The OH radical concentration could be used as a good tracer of the state of the unsteady extinction of nonpremixed flame. The reduction mechanism of OH concentration was confirmed by analyzing the contribution of each term in the OH species equation. At initial stage of flame-vortex interaction, the OH production and consumption rates increased gradually, while the OH concentration was kept nearly constant. Near the extinction limit, the OH production rate decreased rapidly due to the low flame temperature, and the balance between the OH production and OH consumption by diffusion could not be maintained. The unsteady nonpremixed flame interacting with a vortex under the conditions of regime (V) shown in the spectral combustion diagram [Thévenin, D., Renard, P.H., Fiechtner, G.J., Gord, J.R., Rolon, J.C., 2000. Regimes of non-premixed flame-vortex interactions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 28, 2101-2108.] was finally extinguished due to low reactivity, which was induced by the low flame temperature.     

Enhanced oil recovery using carboxylate surfactant systems

Oil displacement tests in water wet Berea sandstone cores containing residual crude oil flooded with water have shown that high tertiary oil recoveries can be obtained using the sodium salts of readily available carboxylic acids. Using a 10% pore volume surfactant slug containing 3.0% sodium isostearate and 3.0% isopentyl alcohol followed by a polyacrylamide mobility buffer resulted in a 92% tertiary oil recovery, which compares well with recoveries using petroleum solfonates. Oil recoveries were highly dependent on pH and added base. Aliphatic C18 carboxylates gave higher recoveries at lower pH using sodium bicarbonate as the added base (pH 8.5) rather than sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or sodium orthosilicate (pH 11–13). In contrast, aromatic carboxylates e.g., sodium p-(1-pentylnonyl)benzoate, gave higher recoveries at higher pH using sodium carbonate rather than sodium bicarbonate. Carboxylates with branched alkyl groups, e.g., isostearate, gave higher tertiary oil recoveries than unbranched carboxylates, e.g., oleate or stearate. Low cost tall oils and tall-oil fatty acids, when neutralized with base, gave oil recoveries of 60–80%. Carboxylates were found to give good oil recoveries even when significant amounts of calcium ion were present.     

Compound types and properties of Utah and Athabasca tar sand bitumens

Properties and compound types were examined in detail for tar-sand bitumens representative of four major deposits in Utah and Alberta. Methods for bitumen extraction, separation, and compound type (functional group) analysis are presented. Results of the analyses are compared with each other and with results in the literature for tar-sand bitumens and petroleum. Comparison of the results of Utah bitumens with the Athabasca bitumen provides a basis for evaluation of the Utah bitumens because considerable information about the processing characteristics of the Athabasca bitumen has been reported. Simulated distillation and Chromatographic separation data indicate that, in general, the tarsand bitumens most closely resemble Wilmington petroleum with respect to hydrocarbon/non-hydrocarbon distribution, especially in the non-distilling portion (the distillable portions, mainly hydrocarbons, are similar for all samples). Tar-sand bitumens were also shown to differ significantly from one another, principally in the amounts and kinds of heteroatomic compound types present. This information is important because of the effects that composition has on recovery and refining processes. Analyses of the chemical functionalities also provide a basis for developing correlations between bitumen composition and the recovery and processing characteristics of the bitumen.