A Comparison of the High-Temperature Oxidation of 17Cr-2Ni and 18Cr-8Ni Austenitic Stainless Steels at 973 K

The oxidation behavior in air at 973 K of theaustenitic stainless steels 18Cr8Ni and17Cr-2.5Ni-10.5Mn-2Cu-0.17N (low-nickel content), wasstudied in a thermobalance. The steels were heated fromroom temperature up to 973K at 10 K min^-1, oxidizedfor 80 hr and then cooled to room temperature at 80 Kmin^-1. The two steels had the same weightgains, 0.18 mg cm^-2, which is equivalent tooxidation layers about 1.15 m theoretical thickness. In both cases, thegeneral shapes of the WS^-1 (mgcm^-2) curves vs. t (hours) were parabolic,but X-ray diffraction of the oxidized surfaces, surfaceand crosssection optical microscopy and SEM observations and EDSmicroanalysis show important differences betweenthem.     

Automated High Throughput Screening of Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) Assays Using Assay Platform™ Integrated with Activity Base for ‘on the fly’ Compound Reconfirmation

Advances in the field of automation have meant hitherto complex manual cell-based assays can now be automated. These improvements have brought significant enhancements in throughput, data fidelity and consistency, and allowed a reallocation of constrained resources.Building upon these improvements, we have linked our automated cell-based screening system, Assay Platform™, to Activity Base (IDBS), a software package designed to automate the analysis of HTS data. Customisation of this package has resulted in software that can identify ‘active’ compounds and re-pick them ‘on the fly’ from the original compound plates for triplicate re-testing without operator intervention.Based on an operator initially defining ‘normal’ parameters for assay activity in Activity Base, combined with an automated quality control software module that checks data fidelity, wells containing ‘active’ compounds can be re-picked and re-tested at the end of an automated screening run. Automating cell-based assays has significantly improved productivity, and, with the synergism of Activity Base, has given us greater power to complete each screening run and report ‘active’ compounds to Chemistry more rapidly. This article presents our approach to the automation of cell-based Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR) screening together with automated active re-test confirmation using Activity Base.     

Reactive sintering in Fe-Co system

Abstract

Low porosity powder metallurgy compacts have been manufactured from treated elemental iron and cobalt powders sintered at 1150°C under an H_2(g) atmosphere. Their microstructures consist of an interconnected mixed oxide network which encapsulates both the iron and cobalt phases. The production technique employed is an innovative process termed reacto-thermitic sintering (RTS), which leads to near full density and near net shape parts utilising conventional uniaxial compaction and mesh belt furnace practices. The RTS technique relies on microscale exothermic reaction between small quantities of added elemental Al and oxides present on the surface of the bulk powder, together with the bulk powder itself. This results in the production of a transient liquid phase which freezes rapidly and consolidates the compact without slumping. In order to generate an interconnected mixed oxide network, experiments were designed such that the Al powder reacts with the cobalt and the surface of the iron powder which is artificially doped with Fe and Cr oxides.

Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and energy balance calculations revealed that the Al and the oxide coating reaction does not proceed directly. Instead the main contribution to the exothermic process is the reaction between Al and Co/Fe. The system does not exhibit true RTS behaviour and the interconnected network of mixed Al, Cr, and Fe oxides is created by subsequent reaction of Co-Al and Fe-Al intermetallics with the artificial Fe-Cr oxide coating on the Fe. The microstructure obtained exhibits negligible porosity with the metallic particles on the whole fully encapsulated by the oxide.     

New method to prepare iron particles with different morphologies: a way to get high green strength metal compacts

Abstract

Metaliron powders of well controlled size and morphology were synthesised by thermal decomposition under hydrogen of precipitated ferrous oxalates. Green compacts were prepared by uniaxial pressing of metal powders at 290 MPa. The bending green strengths of compacts were measured.

The precipitation of β-FeC₂O₄.2H₂O oxalate from ammonium oxalate gives rise to the formation of spherical particles by aggregation ofelongated grains. Thermal decomposition of this oxalate from 400 to 500°C under hydrogen permits metal iron particles with a rough surface to be obtained. Decomposition occurring above 500°C induces a smoothness of the particle surface. Metal particles synthesised at 500°C show both surface roughness and micrometer sized primary grains.This specific microstructure has allowed the highest value ofcompact green strength (31·7 MPa) to be obtained.

Acicular shaping of the β-FeC₂O₄.2H₂O particles precipitated from oxalic acid involves, after decomposition, an increase in the surface roughness and shape irregularity of the metal particles, owing to an entanglement of the elementary grains. An exceptional value (about 60 MPa) for the metal compact green strength was thus obtained for this type of powder.     

Multipass rolling of aluminium alloys: finite element simulations and microstructural evolution

Abstract

Use of numerical predictive methods such as finite element analysis is becoming progressively more common for modelling industrial hot metal working and forming processes. These tools are used not only to predict the thermomechanical behaviour of metals but increasingly to predict microstructural changes by linking them to physical models of recrystallisation and textural evolution. This paper describes the development and application of a fully integrated model for the prediction of thermomechanical and microstructural behaviour during multipass hot rolling of aluminium alloy AA 3104. Finite element code ABAQUS/standard has been used in the work and the process is modelled assuming plane strain conditions. It is shown that for this alloy the static recrystallisation which occurs during interpass cooling does not significantly influence the thermomechanical response during subsequent rolling passes.     

Influence of cooling and reheating on the evolution of copper rich liquid in high residual low carbon steels

Abstract

This study investigates some effects of austenite microstructure on processes leading to copper hot shortness. Low carbon steels containing 0˙55 wt-% copper were subjected to two thermal profiles in an infrared image furnace with attached confocal scanning laser microscope: hold at 1150°C for 60 s; hold at 1150°C for 60 s, quench to 400°C, reheat to 1150°C. Heat treatments were conducted in dried/deoxidised argon to image microstructures. Subsequent samples were oxidised in air. The oxide/metal interface was studied in a scanning electron microscope. Additional confocal scanning laser microscope experiments involved melting copper directly on the steel. After quench/reheat, austenite grain size decreased by a factor of ～1˙7 and grain boundaries were redistributed. Copper evolved during the first heating was no longer found at boundaries. Results from direct copper exposure reveal an apparent effect of boundary character on copper penetration rate. Possible mechanisms by which hot shortness is affected are discussed.     

New structure of automatic torch and new approach for controlling drop transfer in rotating spray welding arc

Abstract

Using computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing technology, an automatic welding system is designed and manufactured for high current, high speed, and high deposition metal arc active gas (MAG) welding. The welding torch structure is evaluated and optimised via the finite element method and practical welding technology experiments. Finally, the process of high deposition MAG welding is investigated, and it is highlighted that on application of a longitudinal magnetic field to the high deposition MAG welding process, a steady metal transfer and drop deposition condition can be achieved, which is suited to the demands of high current, high speed welding technology.     

变频调速技术在福州铁路二级水厂的应用

本文介绍了变频调速技术在铁路水厂的应用,有原理、有系统设置、有效益分析。认为：采用变频调速技术是解决以往运营上存在问题的最佳选择。     

LUBRICATION FILM FORMATION MECHANISM OF SLIPPER PAIRS IN LOW SPEED HIGH TORQUE HYDRAULIC MOTORS

Pressure-flow analytical formulas of lubrication film of slipper pairs on camshaft connect- ing rod type low speed high torque (LSHT) hydraulic motors are put forward. The bottom surface of slipper pairs is rectangle, and the effect of squeeze flow and pressure differential flow is considered. The dynamic process of lubrication film formation through squeezing is numerically studied by com- puter simulation. Effects of supply pressure, initial lubrication film thickness, velocity damping coef- ficient, loading impact and gravity, etc are studied. Advantages of novel slipper pairs with large oil cavity area are pointed out.     

METAL INERT GAS WELDING OF 2519-T87 HIGH STRENGTH ALUMINUM ALLOY

20 mm thick plates of 2519-T87 high strength aluminum alloy have been welded.The effects of the compositions of filler wires,the heat input and the compositions of shielding gas on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the welded joint have been investigated.The results indicate that finer microstructure,better mechanical properties and higher value of hardness of HAZ can be obtained by using lower heat input.The use of Ar/He mixed shielding gas has several advan- tages over pure Ar shielding gas.With the increase of the proportion of He in the mixed shielding gas, the grain size of the weld metal as well as porosity susceptibility decreases.When the volume ratio of He to Ar reaches 7:3,the porosity and the grain size of weld metal reach the minimum,and the po- rosity can be further reduced by filling some CO_2.