Displacive transformation as pathway to prevent micro-cracks induced by thermal stress in additively manufactured strong and ductile high-entropy alloys

The micro-cracking behaviors of two high-entropy alloys(HEAs) of the FeMnCoCrNi family prepared by selective laser melting were systematically studied. Residual stresses were also analyzed by X-ray diffraction technique. Results show that the equiatomic FeMnCoCrNi HEAs with a relatively stable single-phase face-centered cubic(FCC) structure suffered from micro-cracking with residual tensile stress after laser melting. In contrast, the metastable non-equiatomic Fe MnCoCr HEAs with reduced stacking fault energy are free of micro-cracks with residual compressive stress at various volumetric energy densities(VEDs). The displacive transformation from the FCC matrix to the hexagonal close-packed(HCP) phase during cooling prevents the micro-cracking via consuming thermal stress related internal energy. Further, the displacive transformation during tensile deformation contributes to the higher strength and ductility of the metastable dual-phase HEA compared to that of the stable single-phase HEA. These findings provide useful guidance for the design of strong, ductile, and crack-free alloys for additive manufacturing by tuning phase stability.

Electrochemical properties of powder-pressed Pb-Ag-PbO_(2) anodes

Pb?Ag?PbO2 composite anodes with different mass fractions(1%,2%,3%,4%and 5%)ofβ-PbO2 were prepared by powder-pressed(PP)method.The galvanostatic polarization curves,Tafel curves and anodic polarization curves were tested in sulfuric acid solution.The morphologies and phase compositions of the anodic layers formed after galvanostatic polarization were investigated by using scanning electron microscope(SEM)and X-ray diffractometer(XRD),respectively.The results showed thatβ-PbO2 can improve the electrocatalytic activity of anodic oxide.The anode containing 3%β-PbO2 had the lowest overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and the best corrosion resistance.The morphologies of the anode surfaces were gradually transformed from regular crystals to amorphous ones as the content ofβ-PbO2 increased in anodes.

Al_(x)/HKUST-1 prepared by synthetic exchange as catalyst for reduction of NO by CO at low temperature

Al_(x)/HKUST-1(x=1/24,1/12,1/6,1/3),one of the bimetallic copper-based organic framework materials,was successfully prepared by the synthetic exchange method and characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),specific surface area(BET),thermogravimetric analysis(TG),infrared spectra(IR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and H_(2)-temperature programmed reduction(H_(2)-TPR).The findings indicated that Al_(x)/HKUST-1 maintained the octahedral morphology of its precursor(HKUST-1).The thermal stability and catalytic reduction ability of HKUST-1 skeleton were improved by doping aluminum(Al^(3+)).Al_(1/12)/HKUST-1 showed the best performance among all samples,with a nitric oxide(NO)conversion rate of 100%at 210℃(50℃lower than that of HKUST-1).The valence kind of Al,Cu,and O in Al_(1/12)/HKUST-1 did not change after the catalytic reaction,but the contents of Al,Cu,and O in different forms changed significantly.The catalytic process of the Al_(x)/HKUST-1 followed a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism.

Microstructural evolution and sintering kinetics during spark plasma sintering of Fe and Al blended powder

The reaction diffusion between Fe and Al during spark plasma sintering(SPS)was studied.Microstructural evolution wasinvestigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and the sintering kinetics was disclosed.The maininterphase of the SPS sample was Fe2Al5at773-873K.Ball-milling enabled a large number of lattice defects and grain boundariesthus the reaction kinetics was accelerated,although the direct current can also promote those defects.After milling,the phasetransformation kinetics was improved from0.207before mill to4.56×10-3.Besides,this work provided more details for thegeneration of Joule heating.The resistance offered to the electric path was considered to be the source of Joule heating,andparticularly the resistance offered by the different contact interfaces of die,punch,graphite foil and the sample played a leading rolefor the generation of Joule heating during spark plasma sintering.

Densification and grain growth kinetics of boron carbide powder during ultrahigh temperature spark plasma sintering

Dense B;C material was fabricated using spark plasma sintering(SPS), and the densification mechanisms and grain growth kinetics were revealed. The density, hardness, transverse flexure strength and toughness of samples were investigated and the model predictions were confirmed by SEM and TEM experimental observations. Results show that SPSed B;C exhibits two sintering periods: a densification period(1800-2000 °C) and a grain growth period(2100-2200 °C). Based on steady-state creep model, densification proceeds by grain boundary sliding and then dislocation-climb-controlled mechanism. Grain growth mechanism is controlled by grain boundary diffusion at 2100 °C,and then governed by volume or liquid-phase diffusion at 2200 °C.