Role of micro-Ca/In alloying in tailoring the microstructural characteristics and discharge performance of dilute Mg-Bi-Sn-based alloys as anodes for Mg-air batteries

The influence of micro-Ca/In alloying on the microstructural charac teristics,electrochemical behaviors and discharge properties of extruded dilute Mg-0.5Bi-0.5Sn-based(wt.%)alloys as anodes for Mg-air batteries are evaluated.The grain size and texture intensity of the Mg-Bi-Sn-based alloys are significantly decreased after the Ca/In alloying,particularly for the In-containing alloy.Note that,in addition to nanoscale Mg_(3)Bi_(2)phase,a new microscale Mg_(2)Bi_(2)Ca phase forms in the Ca-containing alloy.The electrochemical test results demonstrate that Ca/In micro-alloying can enhance the electrochemical activity.Using In to alloy the Mg-Bi-Sn-based alloy is effective in restricting the cathodic hydrogen evolution(CHE)kinetics,leading to a low self-corrosion rate,while severe CHE occurred after Ca alloying.The micro-alloying of Ca/In to Mg-Bi-Sn-based alloy strongly deteriorates the compactness of discharge products film and mitigates the"chunk effect"(CE),hence the cell voltage,anodic efficiency as well as discharge capacity are greatly improved.The In-containing alloy exhibits outstanding discharge performance under the combined effect of the modified microstructure and discharge products,thus making it a potential anode material for primary Mg-air battery.

Properties of Ti-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloy

An efficient and safe hydrogen storage method is one of the important links for the large-scale development of hydrogen in the future. Because of its low price and simple design, Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys are considered to be suitable for practical applications. In this paper, we review the latest research on Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys. Firstly, the machine learning and density functional theory are introduced to provide theoretical guidance for the optimization of Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys. Then, in order to improve the hydrogen storage performance, we briefly introduce the research of AB type and AB2 type Ti-based alloys, focusing on doping elements and adaptive after treatment. Finally, suggestions for the future research and development of Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys are proposed. .

Effect of solid-solution temperature on the microstructure of Fe-Ni based high strength low thermal expansion (HSLTE) alloy

The influence of solid-solution temperature on the dissolution of carbide precipitates, the average grain size and the microhardness of the austenite matrix in an Fe-Ni based high strength low thermal expansion （HSLTE） alloy was investigated to obtain the proper temperature range of the solid-solution process. The XRD analysis, microstructure observations, and the theoretical calculations showed that the Mo-rich M2C-type precipitates in the Fe-Ni based HSLTE alloy dissolve completely at about 1100℃. The average grain size of the studied alloys increases from 14 to 46 μm in the temperature range of 1050 to 1200℃. The microhardness of the matrix decreases gust for the sake of solid-solution treatment, but then increases later with increasing solution temperature because of the solution strengthening effect.

Retarding the precipitation of η phase in Fe-Ni based alloy through grain boundary engineering

It is important to inhibit the precipitation of η phases in precipitation strengthened Fe-Ni based alloys,as they will deteriorate not only the mechanical property but also the hydrogen resistance.The present investigation shows that grain boundary engineering(GBE) can retard the formation and growth of ηphase in J75 alloy.After GBE treatment with 5% cold rolling followed by annealing at 1000℃ for 1 h,the fraction of special boundaries(SBs) increases from 38.4% in conventional alloy to 77.2% and the fraction of special triple junctions increases from 10% to 74%.During 800℃ aging treatment,quite amount of cellular η phases adjacent to random grain boundary(RGB) will be found in conventional alloy,and only a few small η phases have been observed in GBE treatment alloy subjected to the same aging treatment for long time.The reason for GBE in inhibiting precipitation of η phase can be attributed to not only introducing high fraction of SBs but also breaking the connectivity of RGB networks.As nucleation and growth of η phases on SBs are difficult due to their lower Ti concentration and diffusion rate,and the disruption of RGB networks reduces supply of Ti atoms to the η phases significantly,which impedes their growth at RGB.

Resolution of a discrepancy of magnetic mechanism for Elinvar anomaly in Fe-Ni based alloys

Fe-Ni based Elinvar alloys performing temperature-independent elastic modulus over a wide temperature range have found wide and significant applications. Although numerous models involved with magnetism have been proposed to explain the Elinvar anomaly, some of the puzzles concerning the anomaly have not been fully understood. In this work, a remarkable discrepancy between the inflection temperature of modulus and the Curie temperature in a typical Fe-Ni-Cr Elinvar alloy was found,challenging the magnetic mechanism for Elinvar anomaly. Microstructural characterization and dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrate the occurrence of a strain glass transition with continuous formation of nanodomains. Accompanying such a transition, the gradual softening in the elastic modulus of austenite offsets the modulus hardening due to the vibrational anharmonicity of nanodomains upon cooling, leading to the Elinvar effect. As a result, the inflection temperature of modulus corresponds to the initiation of nanodomains' formation instead of magnetic transition. Our findings specify the association of Elinvar anomaly with structural aspects, and provide new insights into the mechanism of Elinvar anomaly in Fe-Ni based alloy.

Martensitic transformation and shape memory effect in ausaged Fe-Ni-Si-based alloys

It is well known that the morphologies of the α’ martensite formed from the γ phase in ferrous alloys are classified into five types of lath, butterfly, （225）A type plate,lenticular and thin-plate. Among those α’ martensites, only the thin-plate martensite,which is characterized by containing a high density of transformation twins, has a potential of exhibiting a perfect shape memory （SM） effect.Recently the present authors found in Fe-Ni-Si alloys that the thin-plate martensite is formed by the introduction of fine and coherent γ’-（Ni,Fe）3Si particles with a L12 ordered structure in the austenite matrix due to ausaging. In the present study, the SM properties of the ausaged Fe-Ni-Si alloys with the thin-plate martensite are investigated by a conventional bending-test. The effects of the addition of Co to the Fe-Ni-Si alloys on the martensitic transformation and the SM properties are also investigated. It is shown that while the ausaged Fe-Ni-Si ternary alloys exhibit an imperfect SM effect due to reverse transformation from stress-induced thin-plate martensite to austenite, the SM properties are improved by the addition of Co. An almost perfect SM effect is confirmed in the Fe-Ni-Si-Co alloys by heating to 1 100 ℃ after deformation at -196 ℃.

Crystal Nucleation and Growth of Al-based Alloys Produced by Electrolysis

The nucleation and growth of grains in a series of Al-based alloys produced by electrolysis are observed under SEM. The atomic Ti/AI ratios of the nuclei and the distribution of Ti at certain points are analyzed by point EDS. The particles in different atomic Ti/AI ratios might act as the nuclei of α-Al. At the early stage of growth, the spherical Ti-enriched regions might form around these particles within very limited temperature ranges in which the reactions such as the peritectic reactions etc occur. At the latter stage of growth, the dendrites freely develop in the radial orientations, and the concentration of Ti decreases linearly along the dendrite arm and becomes negligible in the region near the periphery of the dendrite. It is believed that the nucleation is closely related with the number and dispersion of primary spherical areas in the melts, and the segregation of Ti leads to the free growth of dendrite, which is necessary for the formation of equiaxial grains.

MICROSTRUCTURES OF TiAl BASED ALLOYS PREPARED BY HOT PRESSING ELEMENTAL POWDERS

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Tribological behavior of different films on Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared by plasma-based ion implantation

The tribological behaviors of TiN coating and TiN+TiC+Ti(C, N)/diamond like carbon (DLC), TiN/DLC, TiC/DLC multilayers on Ti 6Al 4V alloy prepared by plasma based ion implantation (PBII) were compared. Under the test conditions of counterbody AISI 52100, load 1 N and speed 0.05 m/s, the tribological properties of the alloy are improved by these films in the order of TiN, TiC/DLC, TiN/DLC and TiN+TiC+Ti(C,N)/DLC. Tribological behavior is affected by the conditions of surface modification and triboexperiments. The appearance of “peaks” in the wear dynamic resistance profiles may be due or correspond to the process of formation and breaking apart of transition films. The breakthrough of the DLC coated samples may start from partially wearing out, and end with joining piece dilamination. There are transition films on all counterbodies AISI 52100. When AISI 52100 counterbody is changed to Ti 6Al 4V, the wear of most modified samples is changed from only disc to both disc and ball abrasive dominated.

The microscopic mechanical performance for nonuniform welded joint of nickel-based alloy with nanoindentation

To quantify the nonuniform micromechanical performance of welded joint,the load-displacement curves by nanoindentation test were introduced to examine different zones including base metal,coarse grained heat affected zone,partially melted zone,weld metal near the fusion boundary and weld metal center.The results showed that the strengthening effect of weld metal was more obvious than that of heat affected zone for nickel based welded joint and especially in coarse grained heat affected zone,the hardening resulted from overheating was not apparent.Nickel based weld metal with high content of alloying elements which were often segregated at interdendritic regions or precipitated in grain interior under nonequilibrium solidification contributed to the characteristics that differ from conventional low alloy steel welded joint.

Tensile properties and fracture behavior of Ti_2AlNb based alloys at room temperature

The tensile mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of Ti 22Al 20Nb 7Ta alloys were studied at room temperature. Three typical microstructures of Ti 2AlNb based alloys were obtained by combination of thermal mechanical processing and heat treat ment. They are: 1) lath mixture of O + B 2 with remaining β grain boundaries and α 2 phase; 2) equiaxed O phase in B 2 matrix; 3) fine lath mixture of O + B 2 without remaining β grain boundaries. It is shown that the microstructure obviously affects the tensile properties of Ti 2AlNb based alloys. The microstructure of fine lath mixture of O + B 2 without remaining β grain boundaries has good combination of yield stress and ductility, while the microstructure with lath mixture of O + B 2 with remaining β grain boundaries and α 2 phase has low yield stress and elongation. The fracture mode was also controlled by the microstructure of Ti 2AlNb based alloys. By means of SEM, it was found that the dominated fracture mode of microstructure with lath mixture of O + B 2 with remained β grain boundary and α 2 phase was intergranular, and the fracture mode of the other two microstructures was mainly transgranular.

Microstructure and texture evolution of Ti-Nb-Si based alloys for biomedical applications

Microstructure and texture of Ti-Nb-Si based alloys, prepared by water quenching from β-phase field, cold rolling and recrystallization heat treatment followed by water quenching, were investigated in terms of optical microstructure and analysis of X-ray pole figure result. In as-quenched sample, relatively random distribution of pole figure was detected without showing a specific texture component. In as-cold rolled sample, however, it is found well-developed several texture components consisting of rotated cube, α-fiber and γ-fiber texture components which are frequently observed in bcc-structured metals and alloys were found. Therefore, texture components developed in the present alloys are closely related to the deformation of β-phase even though small amount of α″ phase co-exist in the microstructure. In recrystallized sample, α-fiber texture component is weakly detected while the other texture components, rotated cube and γ-fiber components, appears to be relatively unchanged. No additional texture components were detected besides those texture components observed in the cold rolled samples.

Urinary levels of nickel and chromium associated with dental restoration by nickel-chromium based alloys

This paper aims to investigate if the dental restoration of nickel-chromium based alloy(Ni-Cr) leads to the enhanced excretions of Ni and Cr in urine.Seven hundred and ninety-five patients in a dental hospital had single or multiple Ni-Cr alloy restoration recently and 198 controls were recruited to collect information on dental restoration by questionnaire and clinical examination.Urinary concentrations of Ni and Cr from each subject were measure by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.Compared to the control group,the urinary level of Ni was significantly higher in the patient group of < 1 month of the restoration duration,among which higher Ni excretions were found in those with either a higher number of teeth replaced by dental alloys or a higher index of metal crown not covered with the porcelain.Urinary levels of Cr were significantly higher in the three patient groups of <1,1 to <3 and 3 to <6 months,especially in those with a higher metal crown exposure index.Linear curve estimations showed better relationships between urinary Ni and Cr in patients within 6-month groups.Our data suggested significant increased excretions of urinary Ni and Cr after dental restoration.Potential short- and long-term effects of Ni-Cr alloy restoration need to be investigated.

DEVELOPMENT OF MoS_2-CONTAINING Ni-Cr BASED ALLOYS AND THEIR HIGH-TEMPERATURE TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

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Mechanical properties and tribological behavior of a cast heat-resisting copper based alloy

Mechanical properties and tribological behavior of a novel cast heat resisting copper based alloy are investigated. The corresponding properties of a commercial aluminum bronze C95500 (ASTM B30) are compared with the alloy. The results show that the alloy possesses better mechanical properties and tribological behaviors than that of C95500 at elevated temperature. The tensile strength, elongation and hardness at 500℃ are 470MPa, 2.5% and HB220, respectively. The wear rate of the developed alloy at ambient and elevated temperature is about one sixth and one fortieth of that of C95500, respectively. The alloy is very suitable for ma nufacturing heat resisting and wear resisting parts. Major strengthening mechanisms for the alloy are solution strengthening and the second phase strengthening.

MICROSTRUCTURAL STABILITY OF LAMELLAR TiAl BASED ALLOYS AT HIGH TEMPERATURES

The microstructural stability of lamellar TiAl base alloys at high temperatures was studied by conventional and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The influence of substructures on the thermal stability of lamellar structure was emphasized. These substructures produced by thermal mechanical treatments include the interfacial dislocations and ledges, the subgrain boundaries, the impinged T(Q) twins and misorientated lamellar interfaces. The microstructural change of three kinds of lamellar TiAl base alloys containing differents type and densities of substructures were compared during exposure at 800~1 000 ℃. It was found that the existence of such substructures could accelerate the degeneration of lamellar structure, leading to the rapid necking and break up of α 2 plates, the coarsening of γ plates, and the formation of new γ grains. As a result, the lamellar structure with substructures started to degenerate after thermal exposure at 800℃ for 4.5 h. While only slight coarsening was observed at the colony boundaries in the lamellar structure without substructures even after exposure at 900 ℃ for 7 d.

JOINING OF TiAl BASEDALLOYS BY HOT PRESSING

By hot pressing in an inert atmosphere, the joining interface between coarse lamellar structures and that between a coarse lamellar structure and a fine duplex structure of a Ti 33Al 3Cr(%, mass fraction) alloy, and the effect of heat treatment on the microstructure at the interfaces have been studied. The results showed that the microstructure at the interface between two coarse lamellar structures depends on the orientations of lamellae. And microcavities are found at such interfaces. After heat treatment at 1 250 ℃, the recrystallization structure widened. As to the interface between a coarse lamellar structure and a fine duplex structure, a new duplex structure formed within the original duplex structure at the interface and further widened after subsequent heat treatment at 1 250 ℃ for 4 h. Microcavities are rare at such interfaces, and the joining appears better than that between two coarse lamellar structures.

Effects of MoS_2 on mechanical and tribological properties of NiCr-based alloys

Ni Cr based alloys with a wide temperature range self lubrication were made by hot pressing the mixture powder of alloyed Ni Cr powder, elemental Mo, Al, Ti and B powders and MoS 2 powder. The mechanical and tribological properties of these alloys when rubbing with Al 2O 3 ceramics and W18Cr4V high speed steel were measured in the temperature range of 20～700 ℃, and the mechanisms of self lubrication and wear resistance were studied. The results showed that the alloy containing 10% MoS 2 has the best combination of mechanical properties, antifriction and wear resistance. Over a wide temperature range from 20 ℃ to 700 ℃, when rubbing with Al 2O 3, its friction coefficient and wear rate are 0.19～0.3 and (1.1～1.5)10 -14 m 3/(N·m), respectively; when rubbing with the high speed steel, those values are 0.18 ～ 0.26 and (0.6～3.2)×10 -15 m 3/(N·m), respectively.

Improvement on the Oxidation Resistance of a Ti_3Al Based Alloy by Cr1-xAl_xN (0≤x≤0.47) Coatings

Cr1-xAlxN coatings have been deposited on a Ti3Al based alloy by reactive sputtering method. The results of the isothermal oxidation test at 800-900℃ showed that Cr1-xAlxN coatings could remarkably reduce the oxidation rate of the alloy owing to the formation of Al2O3＋Cr2O3 mixture oxide scale on the surface of the coatings. No spallation of the coatings or oxide scales took place during the cyclic oxidation at 800℃. Ti was observed to diffuse into the coatings, the diffusion distance of which was very short, and the diffusion ability of it was proportional to the AI content in the coatings. Compared to Ti, Nb can diffuse much more easily through the whole coatings and oxide scales.

STRENGTHENING MECHANISMSIN TiAl BASED ALLOYS

The influence of heat treatment and of thermomechanical processing on the structure and properties of a range of TiAl based alloys has been assessed and in agreement with other reports it has been found that increased refinement of the microstructure leads to improved mechanical strength at room temperature, both for the lamellar and the duplex structures. In the case of alloys cooled rapidly from the alpha phase field the increased refinement in lamellar spacing leads to significant increases in room temperature strength but thermomechanical processing can lead to far greater increases. The origin of this increase in strength in samples with a lamellar structure has been assessed in terms of the ability of dislocations to cross gamma/gamma and gamma/alpha 2 lamellar interfaces. It was concluded that the alpha 2 gamma interfaces and the alpha itself are important factors in strengthening the lamellar alloys. The stability of the various structures developed either by appropriate heat treatments or by thermomechanical processing has been investigated by exposing samples for a range of times at temperatures between 700 and 1 000 ℃. It has been found that the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength generally decreased by about 20% during high temperature exposure at 700 ℃ for 3 000 h. The detailed behaviour on exposure at 700 ℃ has been found to be a function of alloy composition, with complex precipitates being formed in some alloys, but in all cases the amount of alpha 2 decreased with increased heat treatment time. It has been found that during exposure the alpha 2 lamellae decomposed to gamma phase by a mechanism that can involve the formation of thin gamma lamellae within the original alpha 2 lamellae.