Microstructure and properties of Ni-Mn-Ga alloys produced by rapid solidification and pulsed electric current sintering

Ni-Mn-Ga alloys were compacted using pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) at 850-875 °C (50 MPa, 8 min) of flake-like powders made from the rapidly quenched melt-spun ribbons. Two kinds of ribbons were used: one made with a relatively slow wheel speed (6 m/s; average grain size ∼14 μm), and another with a faster wheel speed (23 m/s; average grain size ∼5 μm). Both sets of flake-like powders consisted of a mixture of non-modulated martensite (NM) and seven-layered modulated martensite (7M) structure. The amount of NM was greater in the slower speed material, while the other one exhibited mostly the 7M structure. These crystal structures were inherited by the sintered samples. In the compacts having the NM structure the multi-step martensitic reaction overlapped with the magnetic transition, and the Curie temperatures during heating and cooling differed from each other. In the compacts having mainly 7M structure the Curie point was about 100 °C and the martensitic transition took place in the paramagnetic state, while the intermartensitic one occurred in the region of 60-85 °C. This material demonstrated good magnetic properties and saturation magnetization, at best ∼50 emu/g. Mechanical properties of the compacts were good, and comparable to those of the polycrystalline Ni-Mn-Ga samples in compression.     

Effect of soldering condition on formation of intermetallic phases developed between Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu low-silver lead-free solder and Cu substrate

In this paper, effect of soldering time and temperature on formation of intermetallic compounds developed between Sn-0.3Ag-0.7Cu lead-free solder and copper substrate was investigated. Dip soldering was performed at 250, 270, and 290 °C with soldering time of 5, 10, 15, and 20 s. Either ?-Cu₃Sn or η-Cu₆Sn₅ intermetallic phase was found at the interface between the solder and the substrate depending on the soldering condition, i.e., soldering time and soldering temperature. ?-Cu₃Sn was found only when the substrate was soldered at 250 °C for 5 and 10 s. At other soldering conditions, only η-Cu₆Sn₅ was found at the interfacial zone. Crystal structure of ?-Cu₃Sn intermetallic phase was orthorhombic, and it was hexagonal structure for η-Cu₆Sn₅. Transformation of the intermetallic phases was also discussed.     

Identification of microstructural mechanisms during densification of a TiAl alloy by spark plasma sintering

This work aims at identifying, by coupled scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) observations, the densification mechanisms occurring when an atomized Ti-47Al-1W-1Re-0.2Si powder is densified by spark plasma sintering (SPS). For this purpose, interruptions of the SPS cycle have been performed to follow the evolution of the microstructure step by step. The powder particles exhibit a classical dendritic microstructure containing a large amount of out-of-equilibrium α phase. During heating-up, the microstructure undergoes successive transformations. At T = 525-875 °C the α phase transforms into γ. The γ phase formed is supersaturated in W and Re. It de-saturates for T above 875 °C by discontinuous precipitation of W and Re-rich B2 phase. Densification takes place for T between 900 °C and 1150 °C by plastic deformation of the powder particles. TEM observations show that the repartition of the plastic deformation is correlated to the dendritic microstructure, and that dynamic recrystallization mechanisms occur. Microstructural phenomena directly resulting from the high currents involved in the SPS process have not been observed.     

Steam oxidation resistance of Ni-aluminide/Fe-aluminide duplex coatings formed on creep resistant ferritic steels by low temperature pack cementation process

Steam oxidation resistance and thermal stability were studied at 650 °C for a coating with an outer Ni₂Al₃ layer and an inner Fe₂Al₅ layer formed on P92 steel surface. The parabolic rate law of oxidation was obeyed only in less than 2000 h with positive deviations occurring at longer oxidation times. The outer layer of the coating was transformed to NiAl during oxidation, but it remained stable once it was formed. The mechanisms for the enhanced thermal stability were discussed and a simple approach to enhancing the lifetime of the coating was proposed.     

A MoSi2/SiC oxidation protective coating for carbon/carbon composites

To protect carbon/carbon (C/C) composites against oxidation, a MoSi₂ outer coating was prepared on pack-cementation SiC coated C/C composites by a hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition. The phase composition, microstructure and oxidation resistance of the prepared MoSi₂/SiC coatings were investigated. Results show that hydrothermal electrophoretic deposition is an effective route to achieve crack-free MoSi₂ outer coatings. The MoSi₂/SiC coating can protect C/C composites from oxidation at 1773 K for 346 h with a weight loss of 2.49 mg cm⁻² and at 1903 K for 88 h with a weight loss of 5.68 mg cm⁻².     

Effect of hydrogen on room-temperature plasticity of B2 iron aluminides

Different sensitivities to hydrogen embrittlement for the disordered and ordered B2 FeAl alloys have been investigated. The plasticity of annealed alloys (before hydrogenating) has been found to decrease with increasing the long-range order parameter. An intrinsic weakness of FeAl phase grain boundaries revealed at a high degree of ordering. The results of bending tests on specimens annealed and cathodically charged with hydrogen have shown that the influence of hydrogen on the plasticity diminishes with the increase in the degree of FeAl phase ordering.     

Corrosion behaviour of Al/Al3Ti and Al/Al3Zr functionally graded materials produced by centrifugal solid-particle method: Influence of the intermetallics volume fraction

Intermetallic particles, Al₃Ti and Al₃Zr were formed in Al–5mass%Ti and Al–5mass%Zr alloys, respectively, by centrifugal casting, in order to create functionally graded materials (FGMs). At present, no information is available on the influence of the amount of intermetallics on the electrochemical properties of these alloys.In this paper, the corrosion resistance of Al/Al₃Ti and Al/Al₃Zr FGMs was investigated by open-circuit measurements, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Results suggests that the corrosion resistance of the FGMs is affected by galvanic effects between the intermetallic particles and the metallic matrix. Lower centrifugal forces resulted in an improvement of the electrochemical properties.     

Oxidation protection of C/SiC coated carbon/carbon composites with Si–Mo coating at high temperature

To protect carbon/carbon (C/C) composites against oxidation, a Si–Mo coating was prepared on C/SiC-coated C/C composites by a simple slurry method. The microstructure of the coating was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectra. Results showed that the coating was mainly composed of SiC, MoSi₂ and Si. It could protect C/C composites from oxidation at 1873 K in air for 300 h and withstand 13 thermal cycles between room temperature and 1873 K. The excellent oxidation and thermal shock resistance of the coating was attributed to the formation of dense SiO₂ glass at high temperature. The volatilization of MoO₃ and SiO₂ at 1873 K was the main reason of the weight loss of the coated C/C composites.     

Characterization of microstructures and oxidation behaviour of Nb–20Si–20Cr–5Al alloy

Static oxidation in air was performed on Nb–20Cr–20Si–5Al alloy at high temperatures ranging from 700 to 1400 °C. Pesting occurred at 700 °C while internal oxidation took place at 1300 and 1400 °C where Al₂O₃ initiated at the interface between NbCr₂ and Nb₉Cr₃Si₂ phases. Phases present were Nb₅Si₃, NbCr₂, Nb solid solution and Nb₉Cr₃Si₂ depending on the temperature. The aluminium content on each of the phases was analyzed. Al content in Nb₉Si₂Cr₃ has been found to be as high as 5–6 atomic percent. SEM, EDS and XRD techniques were utilized in order to characterize the specimens.     

Corrosion behavior of thermoelectric clathrates α- and β-Eu8Ga16−xGe30+x in air

The corrosion of thermoelectric clathrates α- and β-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x is studied under static air (DSC/TG) up to 650 °C. Oxidation product layers with thicknesses of 10.5 μm (α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x) and 4.5 μm (β-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x) are formed. The oxidation begins at 360 and 380 °C, respectively. XRD pattern of the β-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x oxidized layer shows Ge and four Eu₂O₃ reflections; while α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x data (sample crushed and grinded) shows α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x reflections (majority phase), two EuGa_2±xGe_4?x strongest reflections and Ge (minority phases). These results indicate the amount of oxides is very small or they are amorphous. High temperature powder XRD measurements on α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x under air confirm the oxidation onset temperature determined in DSC studies.