Precipitation and evolution of nodular graphite during solidification process of ductile iron

The quantity and morphology of spheroidal graphite have an important effect on the properties of ductile iron, and the characteristics of spheroidal graphite are determined by the solidification process. The aim of this work is to explore the precipitation and evolution of graphite nodules in hypoeutectic, eutectic, and hypereutectic ductile irons by thermal analysis, liquid quenching and metallographic technique. Results show that hypoeutectic ductile iron has the longest solidification time and the lowest eutectic temperature;eutectic ductile iron has the shortest solidification time;hypereutectic ductile iron has the highest eutectic temperature. After solidification is completed, hypoeutectic ductile iron has the lowest nodule count, nodularity and graphite fraction;eutectic ductile iron has the highest nodule count, nodularity and the smallest nodule diameter;hypereutectic has the highest nodule diameter and graphite fraction. The nucleation and growth of graphite nodules in hypereutectic ductile iron starts before bulk eutectic crystallization stage, however, the precipitation and evolution of graphite nodules of hypoeutectic and eutectic ductile irons mainly occur in the eutectic crystallization stage. The graphite precipitated in eutectic crystallization of hypoeutectic, eutectic, and hypereutectic ductile irons, are 61%, 68% and 43% of total graphite volume fraction, respectively. Simultaneously, there are plenty of austenite dendrites in hypoeutectic and hypereutectic ductile irons, which are prone to shrinkage defects. Therefore, the eutectic ductile iron has the smallest shrinkage tendency.

Kinetics and fractionation of hydrogen isotopes during gas formation from representative functional groups

A gold tube simulation device was used to study the cleavage of representative compounds into gas.The goal of this study is to investigate hydrogen isotope composition change of gaseous hydrocarbons during maturity.Gas chromatography and isotopic analyses were conducted to determine how the yield of natural gas components and their hydrogen isotopic composition were related to experimental temperature and heating rate.A chemical kinetic model for the generation of each component of the natural gas and for the hydrogen isotopic fractionation was established and calibrated based on the results.Results indicate that the hydrogen isotopic fractionation during the evolution of various gas-forming organic materials can be satisfactorily described by chemical kinetic models.During regular methane generation,the reactions at low-activation-energy region had a greater contribution than the high-activation-energy region.While the reactions with high-activation-energy region had greater contribution of deuterium-rich methane.Compared with carbon isotope fractionation,this results in a greater hydrogen isotopic fractionation,which is more sensitive to changes in maturity.This study lays a foundation for further investigations of genesis and maturity of natural gas provided by hydrogen isotopic fractionation.It also provides fundamental knowledge for investigating the filling history of natural gas reservoir and for identifying.

Ignition-proof performance and mechanism of AZ91D-3Nd-xDy magnesium alloys at high temperatures

This study focused on the synergistic effect of alloying elements neodymium(Nd) and dysprosium(Dy) on the ignition-proof performance of AZ91D alloy. The ignition-proof mechanism of AZ91D-3 Nd-x Dy(x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 wt.%) alloy was discussed in depth through ignition-proof testing and microstructure observation. The results showed that the AZ91D-3 Nd-2 Dy alloy exhibited the highest ignition-point of 893 K, increased by 69 K as compared to the AZ91D alloy. The ignition-proof mechanism of Nd and Dy additions lay in three aspects:(1) the formation of denser oxide film consisting of Dy_2O_3 and MgO improves the oxidation resistance of the alloy,(2) the great reduction of the low melting-point phase β-Mg_(17)Al_(12), which leads to the decrease in the oxygen diffusion channels, and(3) the newly formed high melting-point phases(Al_2Nd and Al_2Dy), which block the oxygen diffusion channels and prevent the chemical reaction of Mg and oxygen.