Research on CMT welding of nickel-based alloy with stainless steel

Cold Metal Transfer （CMT） welding technique is a new welding technique introduced by Fronins company. CMT welding of nickel-based alloy with stainless steel was carried out using CuSi3 filler wire in this paper. Effects of welding parameters, including welding current, welding speed, etc, on weld surface appearance were tested. Microstructure and mechanical properties of CMT weld were studied. The results shaw that the thickness of interface reaction layer of the nickel- based alloy is 14. 3 μm, which is only 4. 33% of base material. The weld is made up of two phases, α-copper and iron-based solid solution. Rupture occurs initially at the welded seam near the edge of stainless steel in shear test. The maximum shear strength of the CuSi3 welded joint is 184. 9 MPa.

Simulation and experiments of ultrasonic propagation in nickel-based alloy weldments

In order to obtain good understanding of complicated beam propagation behaviors in nickel-based alloy weldments , ray tracing simulation is established to predict the ultrasonic beam path in a special welded structure of dissimilar steels. Also experimental examinations are carried out to measure the ultrasonic beam paths in the weldment. Then comparisons of the modeling predictions with experimental results are presented to reveal the complicated beam propagation behaviors.

Evolution of helium bubbles in nickel-based alloy by post-implantation annealing

Nickel-based alloys have been considered as candidate structural materials used in generation IV nuclear reactors serving at high temperatures.In the present study,alloy 617 was irradiated with 180-keV helium ions to a fluence of 3.6×10^(17) ions/cm^(2) at room temperature.Throughout the cross-section transmission electron microscopy(TEM)image,numerous over-pressurized helium bubbles in spherical shape are observed with the actual concentration profile a little deeper than the SRIM predicted result.Post-implantation annealing was conducted at 700℃for 2 h to investigate the bubble evolution.The long-range migration of helium bubbles occurred during the annealing process,which makes the bubbles of the peak region transform into a faceted shape as well.Then the coarsening mechanism of helium bubbles at different depths is discussed and related to the migration and coalescence(MC)mechanism.With the diffusion of nickel atoms slowed down by the alloy elements,the migration and coalescence of bubbles are suppressed in alloy 617,leading to a better helium irradiation resistance.

Electronic Properties of Passive Films Formed on G3 and G30 Nickel-based Alloys in Bicarbonate/Carbonate Buffer Solution

The electronic properties of passive films formed on G3 and G30 alloys in bicarbonate/carbonate buffer solution were comparatively studied by electrochemical impedance spectra（EIS） and Mott-Schottky analysis, the chemical composition of the passive film formed on G3 alloy was detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）. The results show that passive film on G3 alloy had better protection than that on G30 alloy. The transfer resistance, film resistance and diffusion resistance of the passive films on both alloys increased with increasing formation potential, prolonging formation time, increasing pH value, decreasing formation temperature, and decreasing chloride and sulphide ions concentration. Mott-Schottky plot reveals that the passive films on the two alloys show a p-n semi-conductive character. XPS analysis indicates that the passive film on G3 alloy was composed of an inner Cr oxide and an outer Fe, Mo/Ni oxides.

Property uniformity of thick nickel-based alloy plate for nuclear power steam-generator divider plate

This paper introduces a thick 690 nickel-based alloy plate produced by the former Baosteel Special Steel Co.,Ltd.used as the steam-generator divider plate in the pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant.According to the product characteristics and design requirements of the thick nickel-based alloy plate,multidimensional sampling and testing were conducted to investigate its microstructure and mechanical properties.The results show that all the property indexes of the thick hot-rolled nickel-based alloy plate meet the design requirements,and there is good uniformity in the microstructure and mechanical properties in different dimensions.These findings indicate that China has mastered the core manufacturing technology of thick nickel-based alloy plates for their use as divider plates in nuclear power steam generators.

Corrosion performance and applicability evaluation of nickel-based alloys for oil and gas production tubing applications

The sulfide stress corrosion cracking（ SSC） performance of G3 and 028 nickel-based alloys w as studied using slow strain rate test（ SSRT） and the four-point bend（ FPB） test under simulated dow nhole conditions. The effect of high temperature,high H2 S / CO2 partial pressure,and the presence of sulfur on SSC susceptibility w as investigated. The G3 alloy w as found to have a higher SSC resistance than the 028 alloy. Presence of sulfur and temperature bear a strong influence on the SSC performance of the metals,particularly on the 028 alloy. The applicability of 028 and G3 alloys may be expanded and both could safely be used beyond the limits set by the ISO15156-3 standard.

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.

Microstructure and hot corrosion behavior of Al-Ce-Y coatings on DZ125 nickel-based alloy prepared by pack cementation process

In order to improve the hot corrosion resistance of DZ125 alloy,Ce-Y modified aluminum coatings were prepared on DZ125 alloy by pack cementation process at 950°C for 2 h.The microstructure,phase constitution and formation mechanism of the coatings were investigated.The hot corrosion behaviors of DZ125 alloy and the coatings in molten salt environment of 25%K2SO4+75%Na2SO4(mass fraction)at 900°C were studied.Results show that the obtained Al-Ce-Y coatings were mainly composed of Al3Ni2,Al3Ni and Cr7Ni3,with a thickness of about 120μm.After hot corrosion test,DZ125 alloy suffered catastrophic hot corrosion and serious internal oxidation and internal sulfidation arose.Two layers of corrosion products formed on surfaces of DZ125 alloy,including the outer layer consisting of Cr2O3 and NiCr2O4,and the inner layer of Al2O3,Ni3S2 and Ni-base solid solution.After being coated with Al-Ce-Y coating,the hot corrosion resistance of DZ125 alloy is improved notably,due to the formation of a dense scale mainly consisting of Al-rich Al2O3 in the coating layer.

Oxidation behavior and mechanism of porous nickel-based alloy between 850 and 1000 °C

The oxidation behavior and mechanism of a porous Ni?Cr?Al?Fe alloy in the temperature range from850to1000°Cwere investigated by optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS),X-raydiffraction(XRD)analyses and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).The results show that the oxidation kinetics at950and1000°C of this porous alloy is pseudo-parabolic type.Complex layers composed of external Cr2O3/NiCr2O4and internalα-Al2O3areformed on the surface of the oxidized porous alloys.γ?phases favor the formation of NiO/Cr2O3/NiCr2O4during the initial oxidation.Many fast diffusion paths contribute to the development of the oxide layers.The decrease of the open porosity and the permeabilitywith exposure time extending and temperature increasing can be controlled within a certain range.

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.

In situ nanomechanical characterization of hydrogen effects on nickel-based alloy 725 under different metallurgical conditions

The effect of hydrogen on the surface morphology and nanomechanical properties of Ni-based Alloy 725 under solution-annealed(SA)and precipitation-hardened(API)conditions was thoroughly studied.The investigation involved in situ nanoindentation testing,microscopy characterization,statistical analy-sis,and numerical simulation approaches.The results showed the distinctive effects of hydrogen on the pop-in and hardness in the SA and API samples.For the SA sample,hydrogen mainly dissolved as solid solute in the matrix,causing enhanced lattice friction on the dislocation motion and increasing the in-ternal stress via lattice expansion.Thus,an enhanced hardness,a reduced pop-in width/load ratio,and numerous surface steps were detected in the presence of hydrogen.For the API sample,the strengtheningγ″phases were the stress concentrators,and the dislocations nucleated heterogeneously,demonstrating indistinctive pop-in phenomena.Furthermore,the precipitates in the API sample affected the trapping be-havior of hydrogen,thereby resulting in the hardness change,which reflected the competition between solution hardening in the matrix and vacancy softening mechanism in precipitates.

Effect of the capsule on deformation and densification behavior of nickel-based superalloy compact during hot isostatic pressing

The Shima yield criterion used in finite element analysis for nickel-based superalloy powder compact during hot isostatic pressing(HIP) was modified through uniaxial compression experiments. The influence of cylindrical capsule characteristics on FGH4096M superalloy powder compact deformation and densification behavior during HIP was investigated through simulations and experiments. Results revealed the simulation shrinkage prediction fitted well with the experimental shrinkage including a maximum shrinkage error of 1.5%. It was shown that the axial shrinkage was 1.7% higher than radial shrinkage for a cylindrical capsule with the size of ∮50 mm × 100 mm due to the force arm difference along the axial and radial direction of the capsule. The stress deviated from the isostatic state in the capsule led to the uneven shrinkage and non-uniform densification of the powder compact. The ratio of the maximum radial displacement to axial displacement increased from0.47 to 0.75 with the capsule thickness increasing from 2 to 4 mm. The pressure transmission is related to the capsule thickness, the capsule material performance, and physical parameters in the HIP process.

Recent advances in nickel-based catalysts in eCO_(2)RR for carbon neutrality

The excessive use of nonrenewable energy has brought about serious greenhouse effect.Converting CO_(2) into high-value-added chemicals is undoubtedly the best choice to solve energy problems.Due to the excellent cost-effectiveness and dramatic catalytic performance,nickel-based catalysts have been considered as the most promising candidates for the electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(eCO_(2)RR).In this work,the electrocatalytic reduction mechanism of CO_(2) over Ni-based materials is reviewed.The strategies to improve the eCO_(2)RR performance are emphasized.Moreover,the research on Ni-based materials for syngas generation is briefly summarized.Finally,the prospects of nickel-based materials in the eCO_(2)RR are provided with the hope of improving transition-metal-based electrocatalysts for eCO_(2)RR in the future.

Effect of Interface Form on Creep Failure and Life of Dissimilar Metal Welds Involving Nickel-Based Weld Metal and Ferritic Base Metal

For dissimilar metal welds(DMWs)involving nickel-based weld metal(WM)and ferritic heat resistant steel base metal(BM)in power plants,there must be an interface between WM and BM,and this interface suffers mechanical and microstructure mismatches and is often the rupture location of premature failure.In this study,a new form of WM/BM interface form,namely double Y-type interface was designed for the DMWs.Creep behaviors and life of DMWs containing double Y-type interface and conventional I-type interface were compared by finite element analysis and creep tests,and creep failure mechanisms were investigated by stress-strain analysis and microstructure characterization.By applying double Y-type interface instead of conventional I-type interface,failure location of DMW could be shifted from the WM/ferritic heat-affected zone(HAZ)interface into the ferritic HAZ or even the ferritic BM,and the failure mode change improved the creep life of DMW.The interface premature failure of I-type interface DMW was related to the coupling effect of microstructure degradation,stress and strain concentrations,and oxide notch on the WM/HAZ interface.The creep failure of double Y-type interface DMW was the result of Type IV fracture due to the creep voids and micro-cracks on fine-grain boundaries in HAZ,which was a result of the matrix softening of HAZ and lack of precipitate pinning at fine-grain boundaries.The double Y-type interface form separated the stress and strain concentrations in DMW from the WM/HAZ interface,preventing the trigger effect of oxide notch on interface failure and inhibiting the interfacial microstructure cracking.It is a novel scheme to prolong creep life and enhance reliability of DMW,by means of optimizing the interface form,decoupling the damage factors from WM/HAZ interface,and then changing the failure mechanism and shifting the failure location.

Review on synergistic damage effect of irradiation and corrosion on reactor structural alloys

The synergistic damage effect of irradiation and corrosion of reactor structural materials has been a prominent research focus.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the synergistic effects on the third-and fourth-generation fission nuclear energy structural materials used in pressurized water reactors and molten salt reactors.The competitive mechanisms of multiple influencing factors,such as the irradiation dose,corrosion type,and environmental temperature,are summarized in this paper.Conceptual approaches are proposed to alleviate the synergistic damage caused by irradiation and corrosion,thereby promoting in-depth research in the future and solving this key challenge for the structural materials used in reactors.

A potential candidate structural material for molten salt reactor:ODS nickel-based alloy

The commercialisation of molten salts reactors(MSRs)is hindered by the lack of structural materials capable of withstanding the corrosive environment therein.To address this problem,we herein prepared1 wt%Y_(2)O_(3)mdispersion-strengthened Ni Mo-based alloys using powder metallurgy and evaluated their potential as structural materials for MSRs based on their mechanical properties,He swelling behaviour,and molten salt corrosion resistance.In view of the strengthening provided by homogenously dispersed Y_(2)O_(3)particles,all NiMo-Y_(2)O_(3)samples exhibited ultimate tensile strengths and yield strengths exceeding those of the Hastelloy N alloy,a state-of-the-art structural material for MSRs.Moreover,the volume fraction of He bubbles in the NiMo-Y_(2)O_(3)samples(~0.3%)was lower than that in the Hastelloy N alloy(0.58%),which showed that the introduction of Y_(2)O_(3)nanoparticles effectively inhibited He swelling.All NiMo-Y_(2)O_(3)samples showed excellent resistance to molten salt corrosion(as reflected by the absence of obvious holes therein),thus holding great promise for the development of irradiation-and molten salt corrosion-resistant structural materials for high-temperature MSRs.

Anomalous yield and intermediate temperature brittleness behaviors of directionally solidified nickel-based superalloy

A nickel-based superalloy with good corrosion resistance was fabricated by directional solidification, and its microstructure and tensile properties at elevated temperatures were investigated. Microstructure observations reveal that the γ＇ precipitates are arrayed in the y matrix regularly with some MC, Ni5Hf and M3B2 particles distributed along the grain boundary. The tensile tests exhibit that the tensile properties depend on temperature significantly and demonstrate obvious anomalous yield and intermediate-temperature brittleness （ITB） behavior. Below 650℃, the yield strength decreases slightly but the ultimate tensile strength almost has no change. When the temperature is between 650 ℃ and 750 ℃, the yield and ultimate tensile strengths rise rapidly, and after then they both decrease gradually with temperature increasing further. The elongation has its minimum value at about 700 ℃. The TEM examination exhibits that sharing of the γ＇ by dislocation is almost the main deformation mechanism at low temperatures, but the γ＇ by-pass dominates the deformation at high temperatures. The transition temperature from shearing to by-pass should be around 800 ℃. The anomalous yield and intermediate-temperature brittleness behaviors should be attributed to the high content of γ＇. In addition, the carbides and eutectic structure also contribute some to the ITB behaviors of the alloy.

Corrosion of Nickel-based Alloy G30 in the Stratum Water Containing H2S/CO2

The influences of temperature and CO2 pressure on the corrosion of nickel-based alloy G30 in the stratum water containing H2S/CO2 were investigated with the aid Mott-Schottky analysis and scanning electron microscopy（SEM） of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy（EIS）, The results indicate that alloy G30 is in the passive state in the stratum water, which is related to the formation of the passive film on its surface. This passive film can significantly protect the substrate from further corrosion. And the film protection is enhanced with decreasing temperature and CO2 pressure. Auger electron spectrometry（AES） and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry（XPS） results reveal that the passive film shows the double-layer structure, i.e. the inner chromium oxide and the outer iron/nickel spinel oxides or hydroxides with Mo oxides dispersing throughout the inner and outer scale.

Mechanical behaviors and energy absorption properties of Y/Cr and Ce/Cr coated open-cell nickel-based alloy foams

In this study, Y-and Ce-modified Cr coatings applied by pack cementation method were prepared on the surface of open-cell nickel-based alloy foam. The morphologies and microstructures of Y- and Ce-modified Cr coatings with various Y and Ce contents were investigated in detail. Then, the effects of Y and Ce addition on the mechanical properties of open-cell nickel-based alloy foams were analyzed and compared. Simultaneously, the energy absorption capacity and energy absorption efficiency of the Y- and Ce-modified Cr coated alloy foams were discussed and compared at the room and high temperatures. The results show that Cr coatings containing minor amounts of rare earth element （Y and Ce） are well adhered to the nickel-based foam struts. Especially, the microstructure of the 2 wt% Ce-modified Cr coating is denser and uniform. In addition, the compressive strength and plateau stress of Y- and Ce-modified Cr coated alloy foams firstly increase and then decrease by increasing the Y and Ce contents at room and high temperatures. The energy absorption capacity of Y/Cr and Ce/Cr coated alloy foams increases linearly with the strains increasing. The Ce/Cr coated alloy foams can absorb more energy than Y/Cr coated alloy foams in the plateau and densification regions at room temperature. Compared to those at room temperature, the Y- and Ce-modified Cr coated alloy foams show higher energy absorption efficiency when deforma- tion within 10%-30% at high temperature.

Microstructure evolution and deformation features of single crystal nickel-based superalloy containing 4.2% Re during creep

By means of microstructure observation and measurement of creep properties,the high temperature creep behaviors of a single crystal nickel-based superalloy containing Re were investigated.Results show that the single crystal nickel-based superalloy containing 4.2% Re possesses a better creep resistance at high temperature.After being crept up to fracture,the various morphologies are displayed in the different areas of the sample,and the γ＇ phase is transformed into the rafted structure along the direction vertical to the applied stress axis in the regions far from the fracture.But the coarsening and twisting extents of the rafted γ＇ phase increase in the regions near the fracture,which is attributed to the occurrence of the larger plastic deformation.In the later stage of creep,the deformation mechanism of the alloy is that the dislocations with [01^-1]and [011] trace features shear into the rafted γ＇ phase.The main/secondary slipping dislocations are alternately activated to twist the rafted γ＇ phase up to the occurrence of creep fracture,which is thought to be the fracture mechanism of the alloy during creep.