Macrosegregation in ESR and VAR Processes

The method of heat generation, heat transfer characteristics, and ingot structure are very different in the VAR and ESR processes, which result in different tendencies and mechanisms for macrosegregation formation in forged IN-718. Freckles are niobium rich and can be generated in both ESR and VAR, with higher incidence in ESR than VAR. White spots are niobium lean and can only be found in VAR-processed materials. Freckles are indige-nous in nature, and result from the flow of solute-rich interdendritic liquid in the mushy zone during solidification. The most plausible cause for white spots is exogenous material, which remains unmelted, falling into the molten pool. The best way to minimize the formation of freckles is to improve the ingot heat transfer rate, a more difficult task in ESR than in VAR.     

High cycle fatigue behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V alloy at elevated temperatures

High cycle fatigue behaviour of Ti–6Al–4V alloy was studied at 623 K and 723 K. Fatigue strength decreased at elevated temperatures compared with at ambient temperature. In the short life regime, fatigue strength was lower at 723 K than at 623 K, but in the long life regime it was nearly the same at both temperatures. At elevated temperatures, cracks were generated earlier at applied stresses below the fatigue limit at ambient temperature, indicating lowered crack initiation resistance. Small cracks grew faster at elevated temperatures than at ambient temperature, which became more noticeable with increasing temperature. After allowing for the elastic modulus, small cracks still grew faster at elevated temperatures.     

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.     

Towards improved design of boring bars part 1: Dynamic cutting force model with continuous system analysis for the boring bar performance

The vibrational amplitude is generally large in the case of a boring bar due to its slenderness. A dynamic cutting force model has been presented to take this large amplitude into account. The boring bar is then modelled as a cantilever with this dynamic force acting at the free end and a generalized continuous system model is obtained. This model is solved for the specific case of boring with a zero side cutting edge angle for which published results are available. A reasonably close agreement is found between the proposed model and the experimental results.     

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.     

Catalytic oxidation of methanol over molybdenum oxide–tungsten oxide

The vapour phase oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde over molybdenum oxide, tungsten oxide and their mixtures has been investigated in an integral flow reactor at atmospheric pressure. The effect of several process variables on the conversion and yield were determined. A high conversion of 95.6% methanol with nearly 95% selectivity was obtained at 430°C. A rate expression has been derived from the kinetics of the reaction.     

The Structure of the Irreversibly Bound Adhesion Promoter-Substrate Interfacial Layer of γ-Aminopropylsilanetriol on Crystalline Si, as Measured by XPS and FTIR

The irreversibly bound interfacial layer deposited by the γ-aminopropysilanetriol adhesion promoter onto a crystalline silicon substrate, which remains even after profuse washing, was found by XPS to have resulted from the fragmentation and rearrangement of the original γ-aminopropylsilanetriol molecule. A mechanism is proposed, involving the homolytic scission of the terminal N-C bond. One of the subsequent reactions is believed to involve hydrogen loss by abstraction and the formation of a terminal vinyl group, which bonds to the substrate. Support for this mechanism is found in IR spectroscopy of this layer.