Electroless Plating of Ni Nanoparticles on WC to Assist Its Pressureless Sintering of WC-Ni Cemented Carbide with Enhanced Mechanical and Corrosion-resistant Performance

Ni nanoparticles were coated uniformly on the surface of WC powder via a facile electroless plating method(abbreviated as WCN-EP),and then consolidated for mechanical and corrosion resistance performance characterization,in comparison with hand mixed WC-Ni(WCN-H).Under the optimized electroless plating parameters,Ni particles,less than 1μm in average diameter,were found to be uniformly and densely wrapped on the surface of the tungsten carbide matrix of WCN-EP.In comparison,in WCN-H,the Ni particles about 1.8μm in average diameter,were randomly distributed together with irregular WC particles.The uniform coating of Ni was found to assist the densification process of WCN-EP effectively,with higher densities and less pores than those of WCN-H at the Ni content of 10.6wt%,25.5wt%,and 30.3 wt%.However,at the Ni content of 18.8wt%,the relative densities of WCN-EP and WCN-H both increased to the maximum value of 98%.The maximum hardness of the consolidated WCN-EP was 82.6 HRA,about 1.2 HRA higher than that of WCN-H.In addition,the consolidated WCN-EP also exhibits a superior corrosion resistance by the polarization curve analysis at an electrochemical workstation.

Edge defect analysis of high-strength corrosion-resistant steel

In this study, a 600 MPa hot-rolled corrosion-resistant steel plate produced by a specific company is investigated. Edge jagged defects and edge surface defects generated on both sides of the strip during production are characterized and analyzed. The results indicate that the distribution of reoxidation granules is located underneath the surface peel and that copper-containing granules diffuse along austenite grain boundaries. This phenomenon combined with the chemical composition and production parameters of a strip indicate that copper brittleness leads to edge jagged defects. However,the surface defects should be attributed to inherent defects on the surface of the strip. Measures that prevent surface oxidation and copper segregation at grain boundaries would likely eliminate these two types of edge defects.

Progress in corrosion-resistant coatings on surface of low alloy steel

Low alloy steels are widely used in bridges,construction,chemical and various equipment and metal components due to their low cost and excellent mechanical strength.Information in the literature related to the preparation,advantages and disadvantages,and applications along with research progress of various types of protective coatings suitable for low-alloy steel surfaces is reviewed,while a conclusive and comparative analysis is also afforded to the numerous factors influencing the protective ability of coatings.The characteristics of coatings drawn from the latest published literature are discussed and suggest that the modification of traditional metal coatings and the development of new organic coatings under the consideration of environmental protection,low cost,simplicity and large-scale industrial application are simultaneously proceeding,which holds promise for improving the understanding of corrosion protection in related fields and helps to address some of the limitations identified with more conventional coating techniques.

Comprehensive Properties of 400 MPa Grade Corrosion-Resistant Rebar

The corrosion resistance of the developed 400 MPa grade rebar was evaluated by a series of experiments, including cycles of corrosion-accelerating tests in the simulated concrete pore solution and reinforced concrete cube corrosion-accelerating tests and in situ exposure experiments in chloride ions condition. In addition, the tensile and bending properties and the connection adaptability of the developed rebar were investigated. The results verify that the comprehensive properties of the corrosion-resistant rebar are excellent. The tensile and bending properties of the rebar are up to the standard of GB1499-2007. The common welding method and the mechanical connection technology of knob-cut roiled parallel thread splicing are suitable for the rebar.

Hot Working Characteristics of Corrosion-Resistant Alloys G3 and 825

The G3 and 825 alloys,with excellent combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance,can be used in hot,and acid environments.Thermal simulation tests were conducted on the alloys G3 and 825 in the THERMECMASTOR-Z simulator,at temperature between 1030 and 1300 ℃,with strain rate from 1 to 50 s-1 and strain ε=0.8.The variations of flow stress with deformation temperature and strain rate were presented.Change of alloy structure with hot deformation and effect of strain rate on alloy dynamic recrystallization have been studied through microstructure observation by OM,SEM and TEM.Moreover,hot plasticity characteristics of alloy were analyzed by temperature-reduction of area curves.The results showed that available hot working temperature for G3,G3-Z and 825 was 1100 to 1240 ℃,1130 to 1220 ℃ and 1050 to 1240 ℃,respectively.The reliable information on hot working in the alloy pilot production in steelwork is given.

Performance of Corrosion-Resistant Alloys in Concentrated Acids

Nickel alloys containing optimum amounts of chromium （Cr）, molybdenum （Mo） and tungsten （W） are widely used in the chemical processing industries due to their tolerance to both oxidizing and reducing conditions. Unlike stainless steel （SS）, Ni-Cr-Mo （W） alloys exhibit remarkably high uniform corrosion resistance in major concentrated acids, like hydrochloric acid （HC1） and sulfuric acid （H2SO4）. A higher uniform corrosion resistance of Ni-Cr-Mo （W） alloys, compared to other alloys, in concentrated acids can be attributed to the formation of protective oxide film of Mo and W in reducing acids, and Cr oxide film in oxidizing solutions. The localized corrosion resistance of Ni-Cr-Mo （W） alloys, containing high amount Cr as well as Mo （or Mo ＋ W）, is also significantly higher than that of other commercially available alloys. The present study investigates the role of alloying elements, in nickel alloys, to uniform corrosion resistance in concentrated acids （HC1, HC1 ＋ oxidizing impurities and H2SO4） and localized corrosion performance in chloride-rich environments using ASTM G-48 test methodology. The corrosion tests were conducted on various alloys, and the results were analyzed using weight loss technique and electrochemical techniques, in conjunction with surface char- acterization tools.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Stress Rupture Properties of a Ni–Mo–Cr–Fe Base Corrosion-Resistant Superalloy

The influences of heat treatment and test condition on the microstructure and stress rupture properties of a Ni–Mo–Cr–Fe base corrosion-resistant superalloy have been investigated in this paper. Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope were employed for the microstructure observation, and X-ray diffraction, electron probe micro-analyzer, and transmission electron microscope were used for phase determination. It was found that the grain size increased and the volume fractions of initial M_6C carbides decreased along with the increase in solution treatment temperature. When tested at 650 °C/320 MPa, the stress rupture lives decreased with the increase in solution treatment temperature, but the stress rupture lives increased slightly at first and then decreased for the samples solution heat treated at 1220 °C when tested at 700 °C/240 MPa. The elongations showed the descendent trends under these two conditions. The stress rupture life and elongation for the aged samples all showed a noticeable improvement at 650 °C/320 MPa, but there was no noticeable improvement at 700 °C/240 MPa. The reasons can be attributed to the grain size, test conditions, and the initial and secondary carbides.

High-temperature corrosion-resistance performance of electro-thermal explosion spraying coating

As a new spraying technology used in the remanufacturing engineering, electro-thermal explosion spraying holds a lot of advantages. Electro-thermal explosion spraying coating aliquation phenomena are reduced and non-crystal, micro-crystal and millimicron-crystal and other microstructure are formed. The corrosion-resistance ability of electro-thermal explosion spraying coating in high temperature environment was surveyed respectively. SEM equipped with EDS was employed to analyze the microstructure of spraying coating before and after corrosion. The corrosion-resistance mechanism of the spraying coating was discussed.

Some Advances in the Application of Weathering and Cold-Formed Steel in Transmission Tower

Application of weathering and cold-formed steel in transmission lines can reduce steel consumption and environmental pollution. Some advances in the studies on the weathering and cold-formed steel in transmission tower are introduced. Firstly, corrosion-resistant tests of weathering steel samples under different simulating technical atmospheres were carried out separately for 240 hours. It shows that the corrosion degree of joint samples is higher than that of single chip samples, and the corrosion-resistant performance of weathering steel is superior to common carbon steel. The corrosion-resistance of weathering steel meets with the requirement of transmission tower. Secondly, experiments and finite element analysis for cold-formed angles and a 220kV prototype tower were completed, and the stability coeffi-cient fitting curves as well as the modification formulas of slenderness ratio for cold-formed members were determined. According to the structural characteristics of transmission towers, four sections of cold-formed angles with different sections and slenderness ratios were selected in this study. The finite element model well predicted the buckling behav-iour of the cold-formed members. Ultimate loads calculating by the fitting curve were well agreed to the experimental values, especially for the members with small slenderness ratios. Weight of the cold-formed steel tower can be reduced by more than 5 percent after considering the strength enhancement. Cost of the weathering and cold-formed steel transmission tower is nearly equivalent to that of hot-rolled steel tower with hot galvanizing.

Effect of Chromium Micro-alloying on the Corrosion Behavior of a Low-carbon Steel Rebar in Simulated Concrete Pore Solutions

A new low-cost corrosion-resistant rebar（HRB400 R） was designed and fabricated by chromium micro-alloying. The effects of Cr on the passivation and corrosion behavior of this rebar in the simulated concrete pore solutions were studied systematically, and its improved corrosion resistance was revealed. In the Cl--free saturated Ca（OH）_2 solution, the HRB400 R rebar presented nearly the same passive film and similar passivation ability compared to the common carbon steel rebar. In the long-term immersion corrosion test in the Cl--contained Ca（OH）_2 solution, the HRB400 R rebar presented improved corrosion resistance and obvious longer passivation-maintaining period. Micro-alloying of Cr element in the rebar matrix enhanced its corrosion resistance against Cl--attack and retarded the corrosion initiation in the matrix. In the alkaline Na Cl salt spraying test, the HRB400 R rebar also presented obviously lower mass-loss rate. The enrichment of Cr element in the rust layer improved its retardant effect to the penetration of aggressive medium, and decreased the corrosion propagation rate of the rebar.

Nanostructured Organic Alkali-Soluble Silicates for Industrial Application

The work describes the properties of soluble organic silicates and their applications to obtain nanocomposite materials. We analyzed the properties of the water-soluble high-modulus silicate systems and their technology for producing. The aim of this paper is the comparison properties of binders based on liquid glass containing strong organic bases silicates. We have shown how these systems are transformed from lower to higher oligomers through the formation of the silica sol and the implementation of the sol-gel process for these oligomers. We have conducted advanced research of various aspects of the use of these materials as the binder. Advantages of strong organic bases silicates in the preparation of heat resistant, nanocomposite materials are shown. Ways to obtaining quaternary ammonium silicates and their use to produce nanocomposites are proposed. Products obtained in this way can be used as a binder in the preparation of nanostruetured composite materials, water-based paints, coatings, etc. Modifiers have been proposed for making of hybrid nanostructured composite materials by a sol-gel process. There have been shown of structuring phenomena some aspects, synthesis and application of hybrid materials based on silica with grafted polymers. It has been shown, the possibility of modifying compositions using the nanostructuring agents such as tetrafurfuryloxysilane. This paper also describes methods for the synthesis of products for modifying a sol-gel process using organic soluble silicates. We are displaying their use for the production of new nanocomposite materials and coatings for protection against various external factors.

Multi-solute solid solution behavior and its effect on the properties of magnesium alloys

The low-density magnesium(Mg)alloys are attractive for the application in aerospace,transportation and other weight-saving-required fields.The mechanical properties and corrosion properties of Mg alloys are the key-property issues for the wide application.It is surprising to find that the solid solution of alloying elements in theα-Mg phase can have multi-effects on the properties of Mg alloys,e.g.,solid solution strengthening,solid solution corrosion-resistance-enhancing,etc.Additionally,the alloy design theory of"solid solution strengthening and ductilizing"proposed by Pan and co-workers has attracted extensive attentions.It is promising that by selected proper multi-alloying-elements(with optimal ratio)solid solutioned in theα-Mg phase,the comprehensive properties of Mg alloys can be synergistically improved.In this work,the solid solution behavior of Mg alloys and the followed solid solution property-enhancing effects were reviewed.The mechanisms proposed recently by researchers for these solid solution property-enhancing behaviors were presented,and the related calculations and predictions were also described.It is shown the demonstrations of the fundamentals for the solid solution property-enhancing of Mg alloys,especially from the atomic inter-reaction aspects,still require elaborated characterization work and calculation work.Additionally,it could be expected that the multi-solute in Mg alloys can bring many possibilities,or,in another saying,"cocktail effects".With understanding the multi-solute interaction behavior and the corresponded solid solution property-enhancing effects,the good balanced high-performance Mg alloys can be developed.

Electroless nickel fabrication on surface modified magnesium substrates

In recent years,magnesium(Mg)has evolved as a salient material,in affiliation with electroless nickel(Ni)coating,which have found applications in automobiles,aerospace and confederate fields attributing to its excellent inherent weight sensitive properties.However,being acknowledged for its remarkable auxiliary properties like flexible machining,appreciable weight sensitivity and ability to be patently diecast into mesh constructs,magnesium is prejudiced by aeronautical standards predominantly for its inferior corrosion resistance properties.In this sense,electroless nickel plating on magnesium and its alloys has been suggested to extricate it from corrosion problem and make it more competitive in industrial and defence applications.Autocatalytic fixation of metal ions onto respective substrates accrues and alters their mechanical,electrochemical and tribological properties,destitute of any electric current aid.This proficiently identified technique is prosecuted with the assistance of a series of sequenced operations involving a prior pretreatment,which corresponds to the chemical cleaning of the substrate surface;electroless coating;and a later activation process which is a mild etching of the electroless coated surface.The susceptibility of magnesium to this methodology has advanced and propagated its exercise and applicability in aircraft,satellites and allied aeronautical fields.Contemporarily,researchers have proposed various eco-friendly and modified duplex and composite coatings which have transmuted properties of these appendages by tailoring alloy compositions and reagents employed.This review article systematically colligates various considerations and evaluations on electroless nickel applications of magnesium and its alloys and explicates how it anchors its practice in the respective domains.Furthermore,a comprehensive analysis is devised based on the pre-existing treatment methods for accomplishing the same.

Microstructure and property modifications in surface layers of a Mg-4Sm-2Al-0.5Mn alloy induced by pulsed electron beam treatments

In this work,surface modification of a Mg-4Sm-2Al-0.5Mn alloy with high current pulse electron beam(HCPEB)under different number of pulses were investigated.The evolution in microstructure,composition and phase components and properties in the surface layer before and after HCPEB treatment were characterized.It was found that the Al 11 Sm 3 and Al 2 Sm phases in the surface layer were gradually dissolved during HCPEB treatment,leading to the formation of a chemical homogeneous melted layers.Besides,deformation bands were formed in the treated layer due to the thermal stress generated during treatment.After 15 pulses treatment,the surface hardness increases to the maximum value of about 62.2 HV,about 61.2%higher than that of the untreated state.Electrochemical results show that the 15 pulses treated sample presents the best corrosion resistance in the 3.5wt%NaCl water solution by showing the highest corrosion potential(E_(corr))of-1.339V SEC and the lowest corrosion current density(I_(corr))of 1.48×10^(-6)A·cm^(-2).The results prove that the surface properties of the Mg-4Sm-2Al-0.5Mn alloy can be significantly improved by the HCPEB treatments under proper conditions.

Data mining to effect of key alloying elements on corrosion resistance of low alloy steels in Sanya seawater environmentAlloying Elements

In this paper,the relationship model between seawater environment,chemical composition and corrosion potential of low alloy steel is established and the distribution of corrosion potential of low alloy steel with changes in key alloying elements is excavated.The research was carried out with the following steps:Firstly,the relationship model between corrosion potential of low alloy steel and its influencing factors was established by data dimension reduction and artificial neural network(ANN).Secondly,key alloying elements of experimental steels were selected out by Pearson correlation analysis,then the corrosion resistance element model was visualized to show the effect of key alloying elements on corrosion potential of low alloy steel.Finally,corrosion potential of low alloy steel with the change of key alloying elements was classified and visualized by classification method.The mining results can reflect the validity of the proposed mining methods to a certain extent and provide an intuitive data basis for the development of high-quality and low-cost low alloy steels.

Water-Lubricated Ni-Based Composite(Ni-Al_2O_3,Ni-SiC and Ni-ZrO_2)Thin Film Coatings for Industrial Applications

In this work, pure nickel and Ni-based nanocomposite coatings （Ni-AI2O3, Ni-SiC and Ni-ZrO2） were pro- duced on steel substrate by using pulse electrodeposition technique. The industrial performance tests were conducted to evaluate the wear resistance, corrosion resistance, adhesion strength and wettability behaviour of newly developed coat- ings. Rolling contact ball-on-disc tribometer was used to assess anti-wear behaviour of these coatings under water- lubricated contacts. The results showed that the wear- and corrosion resistance properties of nickel alumina and Ni-SiC composite coatings significantly improved than that of pure Ni and Ni-ZrO2 coatings. The adhesion and wettability results of Ni-A1203 composite showed better performance when compared to the rest of the coatings. The effects of incorporating nanoparticles on the surface microstructure, interface adhesion and distribution of the particles were also investigated. The coatings were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and 3D white light inter- ferometry. The wear failure behaviour of these coatings was further examined by post-test surface observation under optical microscope.

Superhydrophobic coatings for aluminium surfaces synthesized by chemical etching process

In this paper,the superhydrophobic coatings on aluminium sur-faces were prepared by two-step(chemical etching followed by coating)and one-step(chemical etching and coating in a single step)processes using potassium hydroxide and lauric acid.Besides,surface immersion time in solutions was varied in both processes.Wettability and surface morphologies of treated alumi-nium surfaces were characterized using contact angle measure-ment technique and scanning electron microscopy,respectively.Microstructures are formed on the treated aluminium surfaces which lead to increase in contact angle of the surface(>150°).Also on increasing immersion time,contact angle further increases due to increase in size and depth of microstructures.Additionally,these superhydrophobic coatings show excellent self-cleaning and corrosion-resistant behavior.Water jet impact,floatation on water surface,and low temperature condensation tests assert the excel-lent water-repellent nature of coatings.Further,coatings are to be found mechanically,thermally,and ultraviolet stable.Along with,these coatings are found to be excellent regeneration ability as verified experimentally.Although aforesaid both processes gener-ate durable and regenerable superhydrophobic aluminium sur-faces with excellent self-cleaning,corrosion-resistant,and water-repellent characteristics,but one-step process is proved more efficient and less time consuming than two-step process and promises to produce superhydrophobic coatings for industrial applications.