Interfacial heat transfer coefficients and solidification of an aluminum alloy in a rotary continuous caster

The present study describes the development of an experimental set-up representing the metal/mold system of a rotary continuous caster as part of a methodology, which connected to a numerical heat transfer model permits to determine transient metal/mold heat transfer coefficients, h, during solidification. By using this approach the variation of h along the different mold walls and the metal surface has been investigated by a method based on numerically calculated/experimental fit of thermal profiles (IHCP). The results have shown that the used methodology permits the characterization of h and may be used in the simulation of solidification in industrial processes.     

Numerical modelling in wave energy conversion systems

This paper deals with a numerical modelling devoted to predict the flow characteristics in the components of an oscillating water column (OWC) system used for the wave energy capture. In the present paper, the flow behaviour is modelled by using the FLUENT code. Two numerical flow models have been elaborated and tested independently in the geometries of an air chamber and a turbine, which is chosen of a radial impulse type. The flow is assumed to be three-dimensional (3D), viscous, turbulent and unsteady. The FLUENT code is used with a solver of the coupled conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy, with an implicit time scheme and with the adoption of the dynamic mesh and the sliding mesh techniques in areas of moving surfaces. Turbulence is modelled with the k–ε model. The obtained results indicate that the developed models are well suitable to analyse the air flows both in the air chamber and in the turbine. The performances associated with the energy transfer processes have been well predicted. For the turbine, the numerical results of pressure and torque were compared to the experimental ones. Good agreements between these results have been observed.     

Effect of composition and milling parameters on the critical ball milling of Ti–Si–B powders

The absence of brittle phases and elevated temperature during ball milling of a powder mixture containing a large amount of ductile component can contribute to reach an excessive agglomeration denoting a critical ball milling (CBM) behavior. This work reports in the effect of composition and milling parameters on the CBM behavior of Ti–Si–B powders. High-purity elemental Ti–Si–B powder mixtures were processed in a planetary ball mill in order to prepare the Ti₆Si₂B compound and two-phase Ti + Ti₆Si₂B alloys. TiH₂ chips instead of titanium powder were used as a starting material. To avoid elevated temperature in the vials during ball milling of Ti–Si–B powders the process was interrupted after each 10 min followed by air-cooling. Following, the milled powders were hot-pressed at 900 °C for 1 h. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Short milling times followed by air-cooling contributed to obtain a large amount of powders higher than 75% in the vials. Only Ti and TiH₂ peaks were observed in XRD patterns of Ti–Si–B and TiH₂–Si–B, respectively, suggesting that extended solid solutions were achieved. The large amount of Ti₆Si₂B and Ti + Ti₆Si₂B structures were formed during hot pressing from the mechanically alloyed Ti–Si–B and TiH₂–Si–B powders.     

In situ impedance spectroscopy study of the electrochemical corrosion of Ti and Ti–6Al–4V in simulated body fluid at 25 °C and 37 °C

The corrosion resistance of Ti and Ti–6Al–4V was investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, EIS, potentiodynamic polarisation curves and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The tests were done in Hank solution at 25 °C and 37 °C. The EIS measurements were done at the open circuit potential at specific immersion times. An increase of the resistance as a function of the immersion time was observed, for Ti (at 25 °C and 37 °C), and for Ti–6Al–4V (at 25 °C), which was interpreted as the formation and growth of a passive film on the metallic surfaces.     

Structure of NiCrAlY coatings deposited on single-crystal alloy turbine blade material by laser cladding

In the present work single and multiple layer NiCrAlY coatings were produced by laser cladding on (100) single-crystalline substrates of SRR99 Ni-based superalloy. Detailed structural characterisation and texture analysis by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Rutherford backscattering showed that the NiCrAlY coatings consisted essentially of γ phase with yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) and a small proportion of yttrium–aluminum garnet (Al₅Y₃O₁₂) precipitated in the interdendritic regions. The coatings presented a columnar dendritic structure grown by epitaxial solidification on the substrate and inherited the single-crystalline nature and the orientation of the substrate. The coating material also showed a mosaicity and a defect density similar to those of the substrate. It can be expected that the protective effect of these coatings against oxidation is greatly enhanced compared with polycrystalline coatings because high diffusivity paths, such as grain boundaries, are eliminated in single-crystalline coatings, thus reducing mass transport through the coating.     

Synthesis of SrSnO3 thin films by pulsed laser deposition: Influence of substrate and deposition temperature

SrSnO₃ thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition on amorphous silica and single crystal substrates of R-sapphire, (100)LaAlO₃ and (100)SrTiO₃. High quality epitaxial (100) oriented films were obtained on LaAlO₃ and SrTiO₃ while a texture was revealed for films on sapphire deposited at the same deposition temperature of 700 °C. Amorphous films were obtained on silica but a post annealing at 800 °C induced crystallization with a random orientation. The screening of deposition temperature showed epitaxial features on SrTiO₃ from 650 °C while no crystallization was observed at 600 °C. The influence of substrate and deposition temperature was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy observations.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Aluminum–Zirconium Intermetallic Composites

The search for composite materials comes from a necessity of improving properties of conventional materials. The reaction synthesis process frequently gives products with some level of porosity that may be improved through the use of hot pressing routes. The combination of aluminum and zirconia in controlled conditions has led to a metal matrix composite with a dispersion of intermetallics, especially Al₃Zr. Temperature, pressure, and chemical composition were the main parameters varied during the production of the samples. The experimental procedures consisted initially of the mixing and homogenization of the powders in three proportions (5, 10, and 20 in zirconia wt. %). The powders were pressed for the production of green bodies, cylinders of 9 × 9 mm, with the application of three pressures (150, 250, and 300 MPa). Synthesis was carried out in a tubular furnace (1073, 1173, and 1273 K) using a helium atmosphere. Reactive hot pressing was carried out in a MTS machine. The densification process in the simultaneous hot pressing was observed with the use of mercury picnometry to measure the densities and confirmed with the help of an image analyzer. The temperatures were monitored by a thermocouple connected to an A/D interface. Determination of Vickers microhardness was carried out in the aluminum matrix and in the intermetallic particles; hardness was determined in all samples. The identification of the phases was obtained utilizing XRD, optical, and SEM microscopy.     

Phenol degradation by Aureobasidium pullulans FE13 isolated from industrial effluents

The degradation of phenol (2-30 mM) by free cells and by alginate-immobilized cells of Aureobasidium pullulans FE13 isolated from stainless steel effluents was studied in batch cultures with saline solution not supplemented with nutrients or yeast extract. The rate at which the immobilized cells degrade phenol was similar to the rate at which the suspended cells could degrade phenol, for a concentration of up to 16 mM of phenol. The maximum phenol volumetric degradation rate for 16 mM phenol was found to be 18.35 mg l(-1)h(-1) in the assays with free cells and 20.45 mg l(-1)h(-1) in the assays with alginate-immobilized cells, 18 mM phenol and cellular concentration of 0.176 g/l. At concentrations higher than this, an inhibitory effect was observed, resulting in the lowering of the phenol degradation rates. The immobilization was detrimental to the catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity. However, the immobilized cells remained viable for a longer period, increasing the efficiency of phenol degradation. The yeast showed catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity only after growth in the phenol, which was induced at phenol concentrations as low as 0.05 mM and up to 25 mM at 45 h of incubation at 30 degrees C. Phenol concentrations higher than 6mM were inhibitory to the enzyme. Addition of glucose, lactate, succinate, and benzoate reduced the rate at which phenol is consumed by cells. Our results suggest that inoculants based on immobilized cells of A. pullulans FE13 has potential application in the biodegradation of phenol and possibly in the degradation of other related aromatic compounds.