The Oxidation Behavior of Y2O3-Dispersed β-NiAl

Y₂O₃-dispersed NiAl was produced by a powder-metallurgy process. By adding Y as an oxide dispersion (OD), problems with NiY_x formation and internal oxidation were avoided. Short-term isothermal and cyclic-oxidation performance at 1200°–1500° C was compared to cast NiAl alloys with and without Zr. Results indicate that the Y₂O₃ addition was beneficial to scale adhesion and significantly modified the α-Al₂O₃ scale microstructure, similar to a Zr alloy addition. However, at 1400 and 1500° C, neither the Y₂O₃ or Zr additions changed the scale-growth rate, eliminated the formation of voids at the metal-scale interface or prevented scale spallation. These similarities in performance suggest that similar mechanisms occur when the reactive element is added as either an OD or an alloy addition.     

The Fe-Ni (iron-nickel) system

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The assessment of thermal history in pressure vessel steel

A component of the present work involves attempts to simulate the microstructures of 1Cr-0.5Mo steel sample removed from service after extended exposure to elevated temperatures (10⁵ h at 535°C). The aim is to establish a basis for assessing the thermal history of service components and service weldments. Previous work has established that it is not possible to adequately simulate service microstructures using accelerated isothermal heat treatments alone. A selective mechanical testing program at elevated temperature has thus been investigated to superimpose the effect of stress on heat treatment. Qualitative comparison within each of these sets of micrographs suggests that the intraferritic precipitation in the creep samples is in each case refined and of a higher density compared to the sample subjected to isothermal heat treatments. It has been suggested that a comparison of the composition of the pearlitic M₃C in creep test samples with the empirical relationship may provide a means of assessing the average thermal history of the ex-service sample.     

Corrosion and wear properties of multipurpose coatings deposited by ion-beam-assisted deposition

Electrochemical measurements and wear tests were performed on aluminium and aluminium alloy coatings containing magnesium for uniform and local pitting corrosion protection of low carbon steel substrates. Final hard chromium nitride and aluminium nitride layers were deposited at the surface of the protective films in order to lower friction and wear. The results show that wear and corrosion protection can be improved by use of bifunctional multilayers. The coatings for multipurpose application were generated by ion-beam-assisted deposition. The defined intrinsic film stress controlled by the ion-to-atom arrival ratio influences the corrosion properties. Increasing the ion-to-atom ratios usually improves the corrosion resistance.     

Removal of trace amounts of strontium from aqueous solutions by ion flotation. II Continuous scale operation

A flotation circuit operating on a continuous basis has been designed and constructed for removal of Sr ions from simple aqueous solutions. Under steady-state conditions, a continuous extraction rate of 97.3% has so far been achieved. The effects of changing the gas rate and flow rates of both the Sr and collector solutions were also examined. Finally a discussion is included where the results of these experiments are compared with those from similar continuous-scale experiments where Sr ions are removed by the technique of foam separation.     

Growth of part-through thickness fatigue cracks in sheet polymethylmethacrylate

Fatigue growth data has been obtained for part-through thickness cracks in sheet specimens of polymethylmethacrylate subjected to cyclic tension. Statistical techniques are used to examine the usefulness of linear elastic fracture mechanics for correlating this part-through thickness crack growth data with throughthickness data published previously.     

Crack Healing in UO2

Isothermal annealing of thermally shocked UO₂ bars (O/M= 2.00 ±0.01) at 1600°, 1800°, and 2000°C caused crack healing, which was determined from recovery of room-temperature fracture strength. The activation energy for crack healing was ∼0.5 of that for volume diffusion, and healing occurred at the same rate as grain growth. This result has important implications with respect to crack healing in oxide fuels during in-reactor restructuring.