Characterization and wear behavior of WC-0.8Co coating on cast steel rolls by electro-spark deposition

To prepare high wear resistance and high hardness coatings, electro-spark deposition was adopted for depositing an electrode of a mixture of 92wt%WC＋8wt%Co on a cast steel roll substrate. The coating was characterized by classical X-ray diffractometer （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM） with energy dispersive X-ray analysis （EDX）. The results indicate that the coating shows nanosized particulate structure and dendritic structure including columnar structure and equiaxed structure. The primary phases of the coating contain Fe3W3C, Co3W3C, Fe2C and Si2W. The coating has a low friction coefficient of 0.13, its average wear-resistance is 3.3 times that of the cast steel roll substrate and the main mechanism is abrasive wear. The maximum microhardness value of the coating is about 1573.9 Hv0.3. The study reveals that the electro-spark deposition process has the characteristic of better coating quality and the coating has higher wear resistance and hardness.

Tribological properties of cobalt-based alloy coating with different cobalt contents by electro-spark deposition

The cobalt-based alloy coating with different Co contents was deposited on 45 steel by electro-spark deposition with the self-made electrode. The coating has a compact and uniform microstructure with low porosity and no visible microcracks. When Co content increases grad- ually, oxygen content of coating samples 1-5 decreases first and then increases in the range of 2.52 wt%-3.05 wt%; sample 3 has the lowest oxygen content of 2.52 %. Mi- crohardness of the coating is improved remarkably com- pared with the substrate （HV 230.18）. With Co content increasing, microhardness of the coating samples 1-5 first rises slightly and then declines rapidly in the range of HV 580.61-1052.33. Sample 3 gets the maximum of HV 1052.33, which is about 4.6 times that of the substrate. The coating presents excellent wear resistance, which first increases and then decreases when Co content increases. Sample 3 shows the best wear resistance of about 6.4 times that of the substrate. Main wear mechanism of the coating is abrasive wear and fatigue wear, along with oxidation wear under high speed or heavy load conditions.

Interface behavior and microstructure transformation of welded joint of 35CrMo steel by electro-spark deposition

Electro-spark deposition has been carried out on the 35CrMo steel by filling and restoring the simulated slot specimens, and continuous surface coating with extra low porosity was obtained with proper parameters. The microstructure transformation and interface behavior of deposited joint were observed and analyzed. It shows that a transition region with 15μm in depth was obtained between base metal and deposited metal, and metallurgical bonding was achieved between restored base metal and deposition coating.

Wear characteristics of spheroidal graphite roll WC-8Co coating produced by electro-spark deposition

Electro-spark deposition（ESD） was adopted for preparing high property coatings by depositing WC-8Co cemented carbide on an spheroidal graphite roll substrate.The microstructure and properties of the coating were investigated by X-ray diffraction（XRD）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM） with energy dispersive X-ray（EDX） and ball-disc configuration wear tester.The results show that nanosized particles and amorphous structures prevail in the coating which is metallurgically bonded to the substrate.The microstructures of the transition zone include columnar structure and equiaxed structure.The primary phases of the coating contain W2C, W6C2.54, Fe3W3C, and Co3W3C.The results of abrasive test show that the coating has low friction coefficients（μaverage = 0.18） and the wear mechanisms are mainly abrasive wear, fatigue wear, and oxidation wear.The maximum microhardness value of the coating is about 17410 N/mm2.The study reveals that the electro-spark deposition process has better coating quality and the coating has high wear resistance and hardness.

Unweldable superalloy component repair using electro-spark deposition with high strength filler material

Nickel-base superalloy components with high Al+Ti content are difficult to weld repair using high strength filler materials with conventional welding methods like TIG welding. A feasibility study of electro-spark deposition (ESD) for unweldable superalloy component repair with a high strength filler material was carried out. SEM analysis reveals that a fully dense, crack-free, metallurgical bonded deposition layer can be obtained on the K24 substrate. The as-deposited microstructure characterizes fine cellular structure and the post weld heat treatment precipitates fine γ′particles. The room temperature tensile testing and 975℃, 196MPa stress rupture life testing indicate that ESD makes positively contribution to mechanical performance of repaired specimens. Based on these results, ESD has the potential as an effective alternative to repair of damage and defects in superalloy components, but more efforts should be made before it can be applied in engineering repair.

Mechanism of Building-Up Deposited Layer during Electro-Spark Deposition

This paper studies the mechanism of formation of the deposit layer by (ESD) electro-spark deposition process. Inconel 738 substrates are coated with a deposited layer of NI6625 (Inconel 625). Selections of these two alloys have been done because they had wide applications and importance in the industry especially in gas turban blades in inland stations and in aircraft engines. ESD is suggested because it has a low input heat process which eliminates the effect of HAZ in these Ni-superfluous due to their sustainability to micro-cracks. The coating contains many deposited sub-layers coming from evaporated and melted micro-regions as a result of locally high heat generated by discharging a series of capacitors charged and discharged in a controlled manner between electrode and substrate material. The maximum deposition rates at the beginning of the process and decreases until been in a steady state condition due to the nature of the resultant morphology of the created surface.

Electro-spark epitaxial deposition of NiCoCrAlYTa alloy on directionally solidified nickel-based superalloy

An 8 mm-high NiCoCrAlYTa coating was epitaxially built-up on a directionally solidified (DS) Ni-based superalloy blade tip by electro-spark deposition.Epitaxial morphologies of the coating and its microstructural characteristics were investigated by means of SEM,XRD and TEM etc.It is observed that the fine column-like dendrites originated from the γ'-particles or γ'-clusters of the DS substrate and are un-continuously coarsened.The β-phase particles precipitate and grow eutectically with the γ-phase.The orientation of fine column dendrites depends on electro-spark deposition processing parameters and the microstructure can be characterized with superfine γ and β phases.

Printability disparities in heterogeneous material combinations via laser directed energy deposition:a comparative study

Additive manufacturing provides achievability for the fabrication of bimetallic and multi-material structures;however,the material compatibility and bondability directly affect the parts’formability and final quality.It is essential to understand the underlying printability of different material combinations based on an adapted process.Here,the printability disparities of two common and attractive material combinations(nickel-and iron-based alloys)are evaluated at the macro and micro levels via laser directed energy deposition(DED).The deposition processes were captured using in situ high-speed imaging,and the dissimilarities in melt pool features and track morphology were quantitatively investigated within specific process windows.Moreover,the microstructure diversity of the tracks and blocks processed with varied material pairs was comparatively elaborated and,complemented with the informative multi-physics modeling,the presented non-uniformity in mechanical properties(microhardness)among the heterogeneous material pairs was rationalized.The differences in melt flow induced by the unlike thermophysical properties of the material pairs and the resulting element intermixing and localized re-alloying during solidification dominate the presented dissimilarity in printability among the material combinations.This work provides an in-depth understanding of the phenomenological differences in the deposition of dissimilar materials and aims to guide more reliable DED forming of bimetallic parts.

ZmbZIP27 regulates nitrogen-mediated leaf angle by modulating lignin deposition in maize

In grain crops such as maize(Zea mays),leaf angle(LA)is a key agronomic trait affecting light interception and thus planting density and yield.Nitrogen(N)affects LA in plants,but we lack a good understanding of how N regulates LA.Here,we report that N deficiency enhanced lignin deposition in the ligular region of maize seedlings.In situ hybridization showed that the bZIP transcription factor gene ZmbZIP27 is mainly expressed in the phloem of maize vascular bundles.Under N-sufficient conditions,transgenic maize overexpressing ZmbZIP27 showed significantly smaller LA compared with wild type(WT).By contrast,zmbzip27_(ems)mutant showed larger LA under both N-deficient and N-sufficient conditions compared with WT.Overexpression of ZmbZIP27 enhanced lignin deposition in the ligular region of maize in the field.We further demonstrated that ZmbZIP27 could directly bind the promoters of the microRNA genes ZmMIR528a and ZmMIR528b and negatively regulate the expression levels of ZmmiR528.ZmmiR528 knockdown transgenic maize displayed erect architecture in the field by increasing lignin content in the ligular region of maize.Taken together,these results indicate that ZmbZIP27 regulates N-mediated LA size by regulating the expression of ZmmiR528 and modulating lignin deposition in maize.

A progress review of black carbon deposition on Arctic snow and ice and its impact on climate change

The rapid warming of the Arctic,accompanied by glacier and sea ice melt,has significant consequences for the Earth’s climate,ecosystems,and economy.Black carbon(BC)deposition on snow and ice can trigger a significant reduction in snow albedo and accelerate melting of snow and ice in the Arctic.By reviewing the published literatures over the past decades,this work provides an overview of the progress in both the measurement and modeling of BC deposition and its impact on Arctic climate change.In summary,the maximum value of BC deposition appears in the western Russian Arctic(26 ng·g^(–1)),and the minimum value appears in Greenland(3 ng·g^(–1)).BC records in the Arctic ice core already peaked in 1920s and 1970s,and shows a regional difference between Greenland and Canadian Arctic.The different temporal variations of Arctic BC ice core records in different regions are closely related to the large variability of BC emissions and transportation processes across the Arctic region.Model simulations usually underestimate the concentration of BC in snow and ice by 2–3 times,and cannot accurately reflect the seasonal and regional changes in BC deposition.Wet deposition is the main removal mechanism of BC in the Arctic,and observations show different seasonal variations in BC wet deposition in Ny-Ålesund and Barrow.This discrepancy may result from varying contributions of anthropogenic and biomass burning(BB)emissions,given the strong influence by BC from BB emissions at Barrow.Arctic BC deposition significantly influences regional climate change in the Arctic,increasing fire activities in the Arctic have made BB source of Arctic BC more crucial.On average,BC in Arctic snow and ice causes an increase of+0.17 W·m^(–2)in radiative forcing and 8 Gt·a^(–1)in runoff in Greenland.As stressed in the latest Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme report,reliable source information and long-term and high-resolution observations on Arctic BC deposition will be crucial for a more comprehensive understanding and a better mitigation strategy of Arctic BC.In the future,it is necessary to collect more observations on BC deposition and the corresponding physical processes(e.g.,snow/ice melting,surface energy balance)in the Arctic to provide reliable data for understanding and clarifying the mechanism of the climatic impacts of BC deposition on Arctic snow and ice.

Construction of Dynamic Alloy Interfaces for Uniform Li Deposition in Li-Metal Batteries

It is well accepted that a lithiophilic interface can effectively regulate Li deposition behaviors,but the influence of the lithiophilic interface is gradually diminished upon continuous Li deposition that completely isolates Li from the lithiophilic metals.Herein,we perform in-depth studies on the creation of dynamic alloy interfaces upon Li deposition,arising from the exceptionally high diffusion coefficient of Hg in the amalgam solid solution.As a comparison,other metals such as Au,Ag,and Zn have typical diffusion coefficients of 10-20 orders of magnitude lower than that of Hg in the similar solid solution phases.This difference induces compact Li deposition pattern with an amalgam substrate even with a high areal capacity of 55 mAh cm^(-2).This finding provides new insight into the rational design of Li anode substrate for the stable cycling of Li metal batteries.

Thin polymer electrolyte with MXene functional layer for uniform Li^(+) deposition in all-solid-state lithium battery

Solid polymer electrolyte(SPE) shows great potential for all-solid-state batteries because of the inherent safety and flexibility;however, the unfavourable Li+deposition and large thickness hamper its development and application. Herein, a laminar MXene functional layer-thin SPE layer-cathode integration(MXene-PEO-LFP) is designed and fabricated. The MXene functional layer formed by stacking rigid MXene nanosheets imparts higher compressive strength relative to PEO electrolyte layer. And the abundant negatively-charged groups on MXene functional layer effectively repel anions and attract cations to adjust the charge distribution behavior at electrolyte–anode interface. Furthermore,the functional layer with rich lithiophilic groups and outstanding electronic conductivity results in low Li nucleation overpotential and nucleation energy barrier. In consequence, the cell assembled with MXene-PEO-LFP, where the PEO electrolyte layer is only 12 μm, much thinner than most solid electrolytes, exhibits uniform, dendrite-free Li+deposition and excellent cycling stability. High capacity(142.8 mAh g-1), stable operation of 140 cycles(capacity decay per cycle, 0.065%), and low polarization potential(0.5 C) are obtained in this Li|MXene-PEO-LFP cell,which is superior to most PEO-based electrolytes under identical condition. This integrated design may provide a strategy for the large-scale application of thin polymer electrolytes in all-solid-state battery.

Accelerated Sequential Deposition Reaction via Crystal Orientation Engineering for Low-Temperature,High-Efficiency Carbon-Electrode CsPbBr_(3) Solar Cells

Low-temperature,ambient processing of high-quality CsPbBr_(3)films is demanded for scalable production of efficient,low-cost carbon-electrode perovskite solar cells(PSCs).Herein,we demonstrate a crystal orientation engineering strategy of PbBr_(2)precursor film to accelerate its reaction with CsBr precursor during two-step sequential deposition of CsPbBr_(3)films.Such a novel strategy is proceeded by adding CsBr species into PbBr_(2)precursor,which can tailor the preferred crystal orientation of PbBr_(2)film from[020]into[031],with CsBr additive staying in the film as CsPb_(2)Br_(5)phase.Theoretical calculations show that the reaction energy barrier of(031)planes of PbBr_(2)with CsBr is lower about 2.28 eV than that of(O2O)planes.Therefore,CsPbBr_(3)films with full coverage,high purity,high crystallinity,micro-sized grains can be obtained at a low temperature of 150℃.Carbon-electrode PSCs with these desired CsPbBr_(3)films yield the record-high efficiency of 10.27%coupled with excellent operation stability.Meanwhile,the 1 cm^(2)area one with the superior efficiency of 8.00%as well as the flexible one with the champion efficiency of 8.27%and excellent mechanical bending characteristics are also achieved.

Atomic layer deposition in advanced display technologies:from photoluminescence to encapsulation

Driven by the growing demand for next-generation displays,the development of advanced luminescent materials with exceptional photoelectric properties is rapidly accelerating,with such materials including quantum dots and phosphors,etc.Nevertheless,the primary challenge preventing the practical application of these luminescent materials lies in meeting the required durability standards.Atomic layer deposition(ALD)has,therefore,been employed to stabilize luminescent materials,and as a result,flexible display devices have been fabricated through material modification,surface and interface engineering,encapsulation,cross-scale manufacturing,and simulations.In addition,the appropriate equipment has been developed for both spatial ALD and fluidized ALD to satisfy the low-cost,high-efficiency,and high-reliability manufacturing requirements.This strategic approach establishes the groundwork for the development of ultra-stable luminescent materials,highly efficient light-emitting diodes(LEDs),and thin-film packaging.Ultimately,this significantly enhances their potential applicability in LED illumination and backlighted displays,marking a notable advancement in the display industry.

Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies canopy effects on deposition of air pollutants

Tree canopies influence atmospheric pollutant depositions depending on type,ecosystem characteristics,and local climatic conditions.This study investigated the impact of Pinus sylvestris L.and Picea abies(L.)H.Karst.,and a mixture of both,on the chemical composition of pre-cipitation.Three permanent plots within the ICP forest level Ⅱ monitoring network in Lithuania were selected to illustrate typical hemiboreal coniferous forests.The study analysed(1)the concentrations of NO_(2),NH_(3) and SO_(2) in the ambi-ent air;(2)the concentrations of SO_(4)^(2−),NO_(3)^(−),NH_(4)^(+),Na^(+),K^(+),Ca^(2+) and Cl^(-) in throughfall beneath canopies and in precipitation collected in an adjacent field,and(3)S and total N,Na^(+),K^(+),Ca^(2+)and Cl−depositions in throughfall and precipitation over 2006-2022.Results show a signifi-cant decrease in SO_(2) emissions in the ambient air;NO_(2) and NH_(3) emissions also decreased.The canopies reduced the acidity of throughfall,although they led to notably higher concentrations of SO_(4)^(2−),NO_(3)^(−),Na^(+),and particularly K^(+).During the study,low variability in NO_(3)^(-)deposition and a decrease in NH_(4)^(+)deposition occurred.Deposition loads increased by 20-30%when precipitation passed through the canopy.The cumulative deposition of S,Cl,Na,K,Ca,and N was greater under P.abies than under P.sylvestris.How-ever,K deposition in throughfall was considerably lower under P.sylvestris compared to the P.abies or mixed stand.Throughfall S depositions declined across all three coniferous plots.Overall,there was no specific effect of tree species on throughfall chemistry.

Geochemistry and depositional environment of fuchsite quartzites from Sargur Group,western Dharwar Craton,India

Meso-Neoarchean fuchsite quartzites are present in different stratigraphic positions of Dharwar Craton including the oldest(~3.3 Ga)Sargur Group of western Dharwar Craton.The present study deals with the petro-graphic and geochemical characteristics of the fuchsite quartzites from the Ghattihosahalli belt to evaluate their genesis,depositional setting and the enigma involved in the ancient sedimentation history.Their major mineral assemblages include quartz,fuchsite,and feldspars along with accessory kyanite and rutile.The geochemical com-positions are characterized by high SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3),low MgO,CaO,strongly enriched Cr(1326–6899 ppm),Ba(1165–3653 ppm),Sr(46–210 ppm),V(107–868 ppm)and Zn(11–158 ppm)contents compared to the upper continental crust(UCC).The UCC normalized rare earth element(REE)patterns are characterized by depleted light REE[(La/Sm)UCC=0.33–0.95]compared to heavy REE[(Gd/Yb)_(UCC)=0.42–1.65]with conspicuous positive Eu-anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=1.35–18.27)characteristic of hydrothermal solutions evidenced through the interlayered barites.The overall major and trace element systematics reflect a combined mafic-felsic provenance and suggest their deposition at a passive continental margin environ-ment.The comprehensivefield,petrographic,and geo-chemical studies indicate that these quartzites are infiltrated by Cr-richfluids released during high-grade metamorphism of associated ultramafic rocks.The Sargur and the subse-quent Dharwar orogeny amalgamated diverse lithounits from different tectonic settings,possibly leading to the release of Cr-richfluids and the formation of fuchsite quartzite during or after the orogeny.Thesefindings sug-gest a pre-existing stable crust prior to the Sargur Group and the link between orogenic events and various mineral deposits in the Dharwar Craton.

Artificial intelligence-motivated in-situ imaging for visualization investigation of submicron particles deposition in electric-flow coupled fields

This study delves into the intricate deposition dynamics of submicron particles within electric-flow coupled fields,underscoring the unique challenges posed by their minuscule size,aggregation tendencies,and biological reactivity.Employing an operando investigation system that synergizes microfluidic technology with advanced micro-visualization techniques within a lab-on-a-chip framework enables a meticulous examination of the dynamic deposition phenomena.The incorporation of object detection and deep learning methodologies in image processing streamlines the automatic identification and swift extraction of crucial data,effectively tackling the complexities associated with capturing and mitigating these hazardous particles.Combined with the analysis of the growth behavior of particle chain under different applied voltages,it established that a linear relationship exists between the applied voltage and θ.And there is a negative correlation between the average particle chain length and electric field strength at the collection electrode surface(4.2×10^(5)to 1.6×10^(6)V·m^(-1)).The morphology of the deposited particle agglomerate at different electric field strengths is proposed:dendritic agglomerate,long chain agglomerate,and short chain agglomerate.

Depositional process of hyperpycnal flow deposits:A case study on Lower Cretaceous Sangyuan outcrop in the Luanping Basin,Northeast China

Sedimentary process research is of great significance for understanding the distribution and characteristics of sediments.Through the detailed observation and measurement of the Sangyuan outcrop in Luanping Basin,this paper studies the depositional process of the hyperpycnal flow deposits,and divides their depositional process into three phases,namely,acceleration,erosion and deceleration.In the acceleration phase,hyperpycnal flow begins to enter the basin nearby,and then speeds up gradually.Deposits developed in the acceleration phase are reverse.In addition,the original deposits become unstable and are taken away by hyperpycnal flows under the eroding force.As a result,there are a lot of mixture of red mud pebbles outside the basin and gray mud pebbles within the basin.In the erosion phase,the reverse deposits are eroded and become thinner or even disappear.Therefore,no reverse grading characteristic is found in the proximal major channel that is closer to the source,but it is still preserved in the middle branch channel that is far from the source.After entering the deceleration phase,normally grading deposits appear and cover previous deposits.The final deposits in the basin are special.Some are reverse,and others are normal.They are superimposed with each other under the action of hyperpycnal flow.The analysis of the Sangyuan outcrop demonstrates the sedimentary process and distribution of hyperpycnites,and reasonably explain the sedimentary characteristics of hyperpycnites.It is helpful to the prediction of oil and gas exploration targets in gravity flow deposits.

Revolutionizing plasmonic platform via magnetic field-assisted confined ultrafast laser deposition of high-density,uniform,and ultrafine nanoparticle arrays

The remarkable capabilities of 2D plasmonic surfaces in controlling optical waves havegarnered significant attention.However,the challenge of large-scale manufacturing of uniform,well-aligned,and tunable plasmonic surfaces has hindered their industrialization.To address this,we present a groundbreaking tunable plasmonic platform design achieved throughmagnetic field(MF)assisted ultrafast laser direct deposition in air.Through precise control of metal nanoparticles(NPs),with cobalt(Co)serving as the model material,employing an MF,and fine-tuning ultrafast laser parameters,we have effectively converted coarse and non-uniform NPs into densely packed,uniform,and ultrafine NPs(~3 nm).This revolutionary advancement results in the creation of customizable plasmonic‘hot spots,’which play a pivotal role insurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy(SERS)sensors.The profound impact of this designable plasmonic platform lies in its close association with plasmonic resonance and energyenhancement.When the plasmonic nanostructures resonate with incident light,they generate intense local electromagnetic fields,thus vastly increasing the Raman scattering signal.This enhancement leads to an outstanding 2–18 fold boost in SERS performance and unparalleled sensing sensitivity down to 10^(-10)M.Notably,the plasmonic platform also demonstratesrobustness,retaining its sensing capability even after undergoing 50 cycles of rinsing andre-loading of chemicals.Moreover,this work adheres to green manufacturing standards,making it an efficient and environmentally friendly method for customizing plasmonic‘hot spots’inSERS devices.Our study not only achieves the formation of high-density,uniform,and ultrafine NP arrays on a tunable plasmonic platform but also showcases the profound relation betweenplasmonic resonance and energy enhancement.The outstanding results observed in SERS sensors further emphasize the immense potential of this technology for energy-relatedapplications,including photocatalysis,photovoltaics,and clean water,propelling us closer to a sustainable and cleaner future.

Cracking on a nickel-based superalloy fabricated by direct energy deposition

Cracks have consistently been a significant challenge limiting the development of additive manufactured nickel-based superalloys.It is essential to investigate the location of cracks and their forming mechanism.This study extensively examines the impact of solidification process,microstructural evolution,and stress concentration on crack initiation during direct energy deposition(DED).The results emphasize that the crack formation is significantly related to large-angle grain boundaries,rapid cooling rates.Cracks caused by large-angle grain boundaries and a fast-cooling rate predominantly appear near the edge of the deposited samples.Liquation cracks are more likely to form near the top of the deposited sample,due to the presence ofγ/γ'eutectics.The secondary dendritic arm and the carbides in the interdendritic regions can obstruct liquid flow during the final stage of solidification,which results in the formation of solidification cracks and voids.This work paves the way to avoid cracks in nickel-based superalloys fabricated by DED,thereby enhancing the performance of superalloys.