Thermodynamic Calculation Method for Formation of Rare Earth Inclusions in Conductive Copper

The thermodynamic calculation method for the formation of rare-earth inclusions in conductive copper was discussed. After the formation sequence was calculated, the thermodynamic condition for the inter-change between RE inclusions was further calculated. As an example, thermodynamic law of the formation for all kinds of cerium inclusions was discussed in conductive copper alloyed by cerium. The theoretical results are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental results.

Cerium oxide inclusion nucleation mechanism based on classical nucleation theory and two-step nucleation

It is challenging to assess the mechanism responsible for the nucleation of inclusions in metals at high temperatures.The present work therefore systematically investigates the nucleation of cerium oxide inclusions according to classical nucleation theory and a two-step nucleation mechanism.The nucleation rates and nucleation radii of these inclusions are obtained,and the results demonstrate a considerable difference between theoretical and experimental values.On the basis of a two-step nucleation mechanism,(CeO_(2))_(n) and(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(n)(n=1-6)clusters were constructed and the thermodynamic properties of both these clusters and of cerium oxide nanoparticles were analyzed.In addition,the entropies and heat capacity changes of cerium oxides were determined using first principles calculations and are found to be consistent with literature data.The present data indicate that the cerium oxide inclusion nucleation pathway can be summarized as[Ce]+[O]→(CeO_(2))n/(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(n)→(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(n)→(Ce_(2)O_(3))_(2)→core(Ce_(2)O_(3)crystal)-shell((Ce_(2)O_(3))_(2) cluster)nanoparticles→(Ce_(2)O_(3))bulk.

Evolution of Al2O3 inclusions by cerium treatment in low carbon high manganese steel

The influence of cerium（Ce）treatment on the morphologies,size and distributions of Al_2O_3 inclusions in low carbon high manganese steel was investigated by OM,SEM-EDS and theoretical calculation.The results showed that Ce can modify the morphologies and types of Al_2O_3 inclusions.After Ce treatment,the irregular Al_2O_3 inclusions were replaced by smaller and dispersive spherical cerium oxysulfides.The effects of treatment time and Ce content on the evolution of Al_2O_3 inclusions were examined.It indicated that Al_2O_3 inclusions were wrapped by rare earth inclusions to form a ring like shape Ce-enriched band around the inclusions.Model was established to elucidate the evolution mechanism of Al_2O_3 inclusions.Evolution kinetics of inclusions was discussed qualitatively to analyze the velocity controlled step.It was found that diffusion of Ce^（3＋）and Al^（3＋）in solid inclusion core and the formed intermediate layer would be the limited step during the evolution process.