Clean production of Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic alloys via smelting reduction of high-phosphorus iron ore and apatite

Separated preparation of prealloys and amorphous alloys results in severe solidification-remelting and beneficial element removal-readdition contradictions,which markedly increase energy consumption and emissions.This study offered a novel strategy for the direct production of FePC amorphous soft magnetic alloys via smelting reduction of high-phosphorus iron ore(HPIO)and apatite.First,the thermodynamic conditions and equilibrium states of the carbothermal reduction reactions in HPIO were calculated,and the element content in reduced alloys was theoretically determined.The phase and structural evolutions,as well as element migration and enrichment behaviors during the smelting reduction of HPIO and Ca_(3)(PO_(4))_(2),were then experimentally verified.The addition of Ca_(3)(PO_(4))_(2)in HPIO contributes to the enrichment of the P element in reduced alloys and the subsequent development of Fe_(3)P and Fe_(2)P phases.The content of P and C elements in the range of 1.52 wt% -14.63 wt% and 0.62 wt% -2.47 wt%,respectively,can be well tailored by adding 0-50 g Ca_(3)(PO_(4))_(2)and controlling the C/O mole ratio of 0.8-1.1,which is highly consistent with the calculated results.These FePC alloys were then successfully formed into amorphous ribbons and rods.The energy consumption of the proposed strategy was estimated to be 2.00×10^(8) kJ/t,which is reduced by 30% when compared with the conventional production process.These results are critical for the comprehensive utilization of mineral resources and pave the way for the clean production of Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic alloys.

Vibrational dynamics of Fe-based glassy alloys

The well recognized model potential is used to investigate the vibrational properties of four Fe-based binary glassy alloys viz.Fe_(90)Zr_(10),Fe_(80)B_(20),Fe_(83)B_(17) and Fe_(80)P_(20).The thermodynamic and elastic properties are also computed from the elastic limits of the phonon dispersion curves(PDC).Three theoretical approaches given by Hubbard-Beeby(HB),Takeno-Goda(TG)and Bhatia-Singh(BS)are used in the present study to compute the PDC.Six local field correction functions proposed by Hartree(H),Taylor(T),Ichimaru-Utsumi(IU),Farid et al.(F)and Sarkar et al.(S)and Sarkar et al.’s local field factor(SLFF)based excgange and correlation function are employed to see the effect of exchange and correlation in the aforesaid properties.

Behavior of Medium-frequency Core Loss in Fe-based Nanocrystalline Soft Magnetic Alloys

The dependences of the power loss per cycle on frequency have been investigated in the ranges of 100 Hz<= f<=25000 Hz and 0.1 T< =Bm <=1.0 T for three main original magnetic states in five sorts of Fe-based nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys. The measured and calculated results showed that the total power loss per cycle clearly exhibited a nonlinear behavior in the range below 3 kHz～5 kHz depending on both the magnetic state and the value of Dm, whereas it showed a quasi-linear behavior above this range. The total loss was decomposed into hysteresis loss, classical eddy current loss and excess loss, the obvious nonlinear behavior has been confirmed to be completely determined by the dependence of the excess loss on frequency. It has been indicated that the change rate of the excess loss per cycle with respect to frequency sharp decreases with increasing frequency in the range below about 3 kHz～5 kHz, wherease the rate of change slowly varies above this range, thus leading to the quasilinear behavior of the total loss per cycle. In this paper, some linear expressions of the total loss per cycle has been given in a wider medium-frequency segment, which can be used for roughly estimating the total loss.

General Properties of Low-frequency Power Losses in Fe-based Nanocrystalline Soft Magnetic Alloys

The dependences of the power loss per cycle on frequency f and amplitude flux density Bm have been investigated for the three main original magnetic states in five sorts of Fe-based nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys in the ranges of 10 Hz<=f<=1000 Hz and 0.4 T<= Bm <=1.0 T. The total loss P is decomposed into the sum of the hysteresis loss Physt, the classical eddy current loss Pel and the excess loss Pexc. Physt has been found to be proportional to Bm^2 and f. The behavior of Pexc/f vs f being equivalent to P/f vs f clearly exhibits nonlinearity in the range not more than about 120 Hz, whereas the behavior of P/f vs f roughly shows linearity in the range far above 100 Hz and not more than 1000 Hz. In the range up to 1000 Hz, Physt is dominant in the original high permeability state and the state of low residual flux density, whereas Pexc in the state of high residual flux density is dominant in the wider range above about 100 Hz. The framework of the statistical theory of power loss has been used for representing the behavior of Pexc/f vs f. It has been found that the number n of the simultaneously active 'Magnetic Objects' linearly varies as n = n0 + Hexc/H0 as a function of the dynamic field Hexc in the range below about 120 Hz, whereas n approximately follows a law of the form n = n0 + (Hexc/H0)^m with 1 < m < 2 in the range far above 100 Hz and not more than 1000 Hz. The values of the field HO in principle related to the microstructure and the domain structure have been calculated for the three states.

Formation and mechanical properties of ductile Fe-based amorphous alloys using a cast iron with minor addition of B and Al

Fe-based amorphous alloys with ductility were synthesized using the commercial cast iron QT50 (denoted as QT) with the combining minor addition of B and Al by single roller melt-spinning. The melt-spun (QT1-xBx)99Al1 (x is from 0.006wt% to 0.01wt%) amorphous alloys exhibit onset crystallization temperatures and Curie temperatures of 759-780 and 629-642 K respectively, and whi- ch increase with B content. The amorphous ribbons are ductile and can be bent 180° without breaking. With the increase in B content from 0.006wt% to 0.01wt%, the Vickers microhardness of the amorphous alloys increases from Hv 830 to Hv 1110. The effects of the additional B and Al elements on the glass forming ability and mechanical properties were also discussed.

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of nano-crystallization of Fe-based amorphous alloys with early transition metals

The addition of early transition metals（ETMs） into Fe-based amorphous alloys is practically found to be effective in reducing the α-Fe grain size in crystallization process. In this paper, by using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, the mechanism of the effect of two typical ETMs（Nb and W） on nano-crystallization is studied. It is found that the diffusion ability in amorphous alloy is mainly determined by the bonding energy of the atom rather than the size or weight of the atom. The alloying of B dramatically reduces the diffusion ability of the ETM atoms, which prevents the supply of Fe near the grain surface and consequently suppresses the growth of α-Fe grains. Moreover, the difference in grain refining effectiveness between Nb and W could be attributed to the larger bonding energy between Nb and B than that between W and B.

Surface hardening of Fe-based alloy powders by Nd:YAG laser cladding followed by electrospark deposition with WC-Co cemented carbide

This paper presents the results of a study concerned with the surface hardening of Fe-based alloys and WC-8Co cemented carbide by inte- grating laser cladding and the electrospark deposition processes. Specimens of low carbon steel were processed firstly by laser cladding with Fe-based alloy powders and then by electrospark deposition with WC-SCo cemented carbide. It is shown that, for these two treatments, the electrospark coating possesses finer microstructure than the laser coating, and the thickness and surface hardness of the electrospark coating can be substantially increased.

Effect of niobium on glass-formation ability and soft magnetic properties of Gd-doping glassy alloys

The effect of niobium on glass-formation ability and soft magnetic properties were studied in Fe-Gd-B glassy alloys. The glassy alloys exhibited high glass-formation ability when the element of Nb was added. Bulk glassy rod （Fe0.87Co0.13）68.5Gd3.5Nb3B25 with a diameter up to 3 mm was produced by copper mold casting. The size of the atom might play an important role in increasing glass-formation ability. The coercive force of glassy （Fe0.87Co0.13）71.5.xGd3.sNbxB25 （x=1.2, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4） alloys decreased after the addition of niobium element and was in the range of 1.5-2.9 A/m. The permeability spectrum of （Fe0.87Co0.13）70.3Gd3.5Nb1.5B25 glassy ribbon showed that the relaxation frequency （f0） was 6.1 MHz.

Wear Properties of Plasma Transferred Arc Fe-based Coatings Reinforced by Spherical WC Particles

Fe-based coatings reinforced by spherical WC particles were produced on the 304 stainless steel by plasma transferred arc(PTA) to enhance the surface wear properties. Three different Fe/WC composite powder mixtures containing 0 wt%, 30 wt%, and 60 wt% of WC were investigated. The microstructure and phase composition of the Fe/WC composite PTA coatings were evaluated systemically by using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD). The wear properties of the three fabricated PTA coatings were investigated on a BRUKER UMT TriboLab. The morphologies of the worn tracks and wear debris were characterized by using SEM and 3 D non-contract profiler. The experimental results reveal that the microhardness on the cross-section and the wear resistance of the fabricated coatings increase dramatically with the increasing adding WC contents. The coating containing 60 wt% of WC possesses excellent wear resistance validated by the lower coefficients of friction(COF), narrower and shallower wear tracks and smaller wear rate. In the pure Fe-based coating, the main wear mechanism is the combination of adhesion and oxidative wear. Adhesive and two-body abrasive wear are predominated in the coating containing 30 wt% of WC, whereas threebody abrasion wear mechanism is predominated in the coating containing 60 wt% of WC.

Bulk Glassy Alloys: Historical Development and Current Research

This paper reviews the development of current research in bulk glassy alloys by focusing on the trigger point for the synthesis of the first bulk glassy alloys by the conventional mold casting method. This review covers the background, discovery, characteristics, and applications of bulk glassy alloys, as well as recent topics regarding them. Applications of bulk glassy alloys have been expanding, particularly for Fe-based bulk glassy alloys, due to their unique properties, high glass-forming ability, and low cost. In the near future, the engineering importance of bulk glassy alloys is expected to increase steadily, and continuous interest in these novel metallic materials for basic science research is anticipated.

FORMATION OF GRADIENT COATING OF Fe-BASED ALLOY WITH RARE EARTHS BY PLASMA SURFACING

A gradient coating of Fe-based alloy was manufactured with rare earths (RE) by plasma surfacing on Q235 steel substrate. The coatings were studied by using X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM), differential thermal analyzer(DTA), and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). The results show that the phases of the two kinds of coatings(with and without RE) both include α-Fe, Fe7C3, Fe3C, Cr2B, Fe2B and FeB. The microstructure of F314 coating is mainly hypereutectic, the pro-phases Cr7C3 and Cr2B are loose, crassi, spiculate and contain microcracks. The brittleness of the coating is high, and the average hardness is 787 HV. When 0.8wt% RE was added into the F314 alloy, the microstructure varied from hypoeutectic to hypereutectic continuously, The hardness appears as gradient distribution with the highest value of 773 HV, meanwhile, the brittleness decreases significantly. The formation of gradient structure depends on the fallowing factors: (i) the conversion of RE. The addition of RE lowers the elements point and Fe-C eutectic temperature, thus the base metal melting acutely. (ii) the heating of plasma arc. Graded temperature results in directional solidification, thus the gradient structure forms easily. The main reasons for the hardness decrease with RE addition in the alloy are the ratio of hard phase lowering and the hardness of the hard phase decreasing.

Corrosion Behavior of Plasma Transferred Arc Fe-based Coating Reinforced by Spherical Tungsten Carbide in Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

Fe-based coatings reinforced by spherical tungsten carbide were deposited on 304 stainless steel using plasma transferred arc(PTA) technology.The composition and phase microstructure of the coatings were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) and X-ray diffraction(XRD).The corrosion behaviors of the coatings in 0.5 mol/L HCl solution were studied using polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) measurements.The experimental results shows that the tungsten carbide improves the corrosion resistance of the Fe-based alloy coating,but increase in the mass fraction of tungsten carbide leads to increasing amount of defects of holes and cracks,which results in an adverse effect on the corrosion resistance.The defects are mainly present on the tungsten carbide but also extend to the Fe-based matrix.The tungsten carbide,acting as a cathode,and binding material of Fe-based alloy,acting as an anode,create a galvanic corrosion cell.The binding material is preferentially corroded and causes the degradation of the coating.

Work Functions of Pd_(83.5)Si_(16.5)and Cu_(70)Ti_(30)Glassy Alloys

The work functions before and after crystallization of two glassy alloys,Pd_(83.5)Si_(16.5) and Cu_(70)Ti_(30) have been measured by means of the con- tact potential difference method in the secondary electron field at room temperature under 10^(-5) Pa vacuum.The results show that the work functions of both glassy alloys are higher than those of the corresponding crystalline alloys.

Study on Fe-based alloy Fe-Cr-Ti-C layers by reactive plasma cladding

Fe-based alloy Fe-Cr-Ti-C composite layers with and without titanium （ other powder ingredients are about the same） were fabricated on Q235 steel by plasma cladding process with high-energy plasma jet as heat source. Microstructure , phase composition and micro-hardness of the layers were investigated by optical microscope （OM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, electron probe microanalysis （ EPMA ） and micro-hardness tester. The results show that the grains of the cladding layers with Ti are much finer than that of the Fe-based cladding layer without Ti. Compared with the cladding layers without Ti, there are more shingle crystals in the cladding layers with Ti and the hard phase （ Cr, Fe ） 7 C3 of the eutectic in the layers increase gradually. However, as increasing titanium content in the alloy powder, the hard phase （Cr, Fe ） 7 C3 in eutectic structure of the cladding layer increases gradually, restraining （ Cr, Fe ）7 C3 carbide precipitation and decreasing the average and maximum hardness of the cladding layer.

Ferromagnetic Fe-based Amorphous Alloy with High Glass-forming Ability

A ferromagnetic amorphous Fe73Al4Ge2Nb1 P10C6B4 alloy with high glass-forming ability was synthesized by melt spinning. The supercooled liquid region before crystallization reaches about 65.7 K. The crystallized structure consists of a-Fe, Fe3B, FeB, Fe3P and Fe3C phases. The Febased amorphous alloy exhibits good magnetic properties With a high saturation magnetization and a low saturated magnetostriction. The crystallization leads to an obvious decrease in the soft magnetic properties.

Effects of C/B4 C ratio on microstructure and property of Fe-based alloy coatings reinforced with in situ synthesized TiB2 -TiC

The Fe-based alloy coatings reinforced with in situ synthesized TiB2-TiC were prepared on Q235 steel by reactive plasma cladding using Fe901 alloy, Ti, B4C, and graphite （C） powders us raw materials. The effects of C/B4C weight percentage ratio （0 - 1. 38 ） on the microstructure , microhardness , and wet sand abrasion resistance of the coatings were investigated. The results show that the coatings consist of （ Fe, Cr ） solid solution, TiC, TiB2, Ti8C5 , and Fe3 C phases. The decrease of C/B4 C ratio is propitious to the formation of TiB2 and Tis C5. Increasing the C/B4 C ratio can help to refine the microstructure of the coatings. However, the microhardness of the middle-upper of the coatings and the wet sand abrasion resistance of the coatings degenerate with the increase of C/B4C ratio. The coating exhibits the best wet sand abrasion resistance at C/BaC =0 and its average mass loss rate per unit wear distance is 0. 001 2%/m. The change of the wet sand abrasion resistance of the coatings with the C/B4C ratio can be mainly attributed to the combined action of the changes of microhardness and the volume percentage of the ceramic reinforcements containing titanium in the coatings.

Effect of the Partial Substitution of V for Nb on the Magnetic Properties of Fe-based Nanocrystalline Alloy

The variation of the magnetic properties of the nanocrystalline alloys for the partial substitution of V for Nb with crystallizing treatment temperature and time was investigated. The variation law of the magnetic properties with the annealing temperature and time is essentially the same. The magnetic properties of the Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys for the partial substitution of V for Nb reduce, and the crystallizing treatment temperature of the alloys increases. The optimum properties of Fe74Cu1Nb3Si13B9 nanocrystalline alloys crystallized at 550℃x60 min are μ0=9.2xl0^4, μm=54.8xl0^4, Hc=1.14 A/m and Bs=1.26 T. The best properties for Fe74Cu1Nb3Si13B9 alloys annealed at 560℃x60 min are μ0=8.79x10^4, μm=50.18xl0^4, Hc=1.26 A/m and Bs=1.24 T.

Purifying Fe-based amorphous alloys to enhance glass-forming ability by designing a novel refining slag

Designing low melting point and low basicity refining slag suitable for Fe-based amorphous alloys and understanding the inclusions’formation,removal,influencing mechanisms are quite vital in the fields of metallurgy and materials.In this study,a novel 13%SiO_(2)-32%CaO-30%Al_(2)O_(3)-25%B_(2)O_(3)(wt.%)refining slag was designed after careful calculations of the liquid phase region,slag-metal equilibrium,surface tension,viscosity,deoxidation capability and sulfur distribution ratio.After refining with our designed slag,the content of impurities and the number density of inclusions in a representative Fe_(83)Si_(2)B_(15)(at.%)amor-phous alloy were significantly reduced.Moreover,the glass-forming ability(GFA)of the alloy was also enhanced,enabling the preparation of amorphous ribbons with a lower cooling rate.Based on the impu-rities in Fe-based amorphous alloys as well as the calculated oxide and sulfide free energy diagrams,CaO,SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3) oxides and CaS,TiS,MnS sulfides will form in the master alloy.The high melting point in-clusions in the melt are generally removed via a floatation-separation-absorption process and the Mn,Ti,S impurities are removed via slag-metal interface reactions during refining.As for the detrimental effect of inclusions on glass formation,the small lattice disregistry between Ti,Mn-containing inclusions and primaryα-Fe gains reveal that these inclusions are effective in promoting the heterogeneous nucleation,and therefore greatly deteriorate the GFA.These findings are important and provide an ideal solution to purifying the Fe-based amorphous alloys by refining and enhancing the GFA for industrial production.

Tempering Stability of Fe-Base Hardfacing Layer Containing RE and Multiple Alloying

After tempering treatment at different conditions, the tempering stability of Fe-base hardfacing layer containing RE and multiple alloying was investigated. The results show that after heat preservation at 560 ℃ and tempering for 4 h the hardness value of Fe-base hardfacing layer containing RE and multiple alloying can reach HRC57; By repeatedly heating circle 700 ℃17 ℃ for 150 times, the hardness value of Fe-base hardfacing layer can reach HRC43, tempering stability is higher and causes the secondary hardening phenomenon. Reasons for higher tempering stability of Fe-base hardfacing layer were analyzed by means of metallographic, XRD, TEM and EDS.