Clean production of Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic alloys via smelting reduction of high-phosphorus iron ore and apatite

Separated preparation of prealloys and amorphous alloys results in severe solidification-remelting and beneficial element removal-readdition contradictions,which markedly increase energy consumption and emissions.This study offered a novel strategy for the direct production of FePC amorphous soft magnetic alloys via smelting reduction of high-phosphorus iron ore(HPIO)and apatite.First,the thermodynamic conditions and equilibrium states of the carbothermal reduction reactions in HPIO were calculated,and the element content in reduced alloys was theoretically determined.The phase and structural evolutions,as well as element migration and enrichment behaviors during the smelting reduction of HPIO and Ca_(3)(PO_(4))_(2),were then experimentally verified.The addition of Ca_(3)(PO_(4))_(2)in HPIO contributes to the enrichment of the P element in reduced alloys and the subsequent development of Fe_(3)P and Fe_(2)P phases.The content of P and C elements in the range of 1.52 wt% -14.63 wt% and 0.62 wt% -2.47 wt%,respectively,can be well tailored by adding 0-50 g Ca_(3)(PO_(4))_(2)and controlling the C/O mole ratio of 0.8-1.1,which is highly consistent with the calculated results.These FePC alloys were then successfully formed into amorphous ribbons and rods.The energy consumption of the proposed strategy was estimated to be 2.00×10^(8) kJ/t,which is reduced by 30% when compared with the conventional production process.These results are critical for the comprehensive utilization of mineral resources and pave the way for the clean production of Fe-based amorphous soft magnetic alloys.

Thermodynamic analysis of interactions between Ti-Al alloys and oxide ceramics

The thermodynamics of interactions between various oxides（CaO,MgO,Al2O3 and Y2O3） and molten Ti and Ti alloys was investigated.The dissolution mechanism of oxides in molten Ti alloys was provided and the stability of oxides in molten Ti alloys was investigated and predicted by thermodynamic analysis.Interactions between oxides and Ti-Al melts were studied by oxide crucible melting experiments.By quantitative analysis,it is indicated that impurity contents in alloys are proportionally decreased with increasing the Al content in alloys and decreasing the melt temperature,which is in agreement with the results of the predicting thermodynamic stability.

Improvement in collapsibility of ZrO2 ceramic mould for investment casting of TiAl alloys

Investment casting has been widely recognized as the best option in producing TiAl components with key benefits of accuracy,versatility and integrity.The collapsibility of ceramic moulds for investment casting is critical in the manufacturing process of TiAl components due to TiAl's intrinsic brittleness at room temperature.The aim of the present research is to provide a method for production of TiAl components by investment casting in ZrO2 ceramic moulds with improved collapsibility.Slurries prepared with high polymer additions were utilized during the preparation of ceramic moulds.The stress/strain curves obtained from green and baked ceramic moulds demonstrate that the green strength was increased with the application of high polymer,while baked strength decreased,thus the collapsibility of ceramic moulds was improved.It is suggested that this result is related to the burn-out of high polymer which left a lot of cavities.The experimental findings were also verified by the investment casting of "I"-shaped TiAl components.

Behavior of Medium-frequency Core Loss in Fe-based Nanocrystalline Soft Magnetic Alloys

The dependences of the power loss per cycle on frequency have been investigated in the ranges of 100 Hz<= f<=25000 Hz and 0.1 T< =Bm <=1.0 T for three main original magnetic states in five sorts of Fe-based nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys. The measured and calculated results showed that the total power loss per cycle clearly exhibited a nonlinear behavior in the range below 3 kHz～5 kHz depending on both the magnetic state and the value of Dm, whereas it showed a quasi-linear behavior above this range. The total loss was decomposed into hysteresis loss, classical eddy current loss and excess loss, the obvious nonlinear behavior has been confirmed to be completely determined by the dependence of the excess loss on frequency. It has been indicated that the change rate of the excess loss per cycle with respect to frequency sharp decreases with increasing frequency in the range below about 3 kHz～5 kHz, wherease the rate of change slowly varies above this range, thus leading to the quasilinear behavior of the total loss per cycle. In this paper, some linear expressions of the total loss per cycle has been given in a wider medium-frequency segment, which can be used for roughly estimating the total loss.

General Properties of Low-frequency Power Losses in Fe-based Nanocrystalline Soft Magnetic Alloys

The dependences of the power loss per cycle on frequency f and amplitude flux density Bm have been investigated for the three main original magnetic states in five sorts of Fe-based nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys in the ranges of 10 Hz<=f<=1000 Hz and 0.4 T<= Bm <=1.0 T. The total loss P is decomposed into the sum of the hysteresis loss Physt, the classical eddy current loss Pel and the excess loss Pexc. Physt has been found to be proportional to Bm^2 and f. The behavior of Pexc/f vs f being equivalent to P/f vs f clearly exhibits nonlinearity in the range not more than about 120 Hz, whereas the behavior of P/f vs f roughly shows linearity in the range far above 100 Hz and not more than 1000 Hz. In the range up to 1000 Hz, Physt is dominant in the original high permeability state and the state of low residual flux density, whereas Pexc in the state of high residual flux density is dominant in the wider range above about 100 Hz. The framework of the statistical theory of power loss has been used for representing the behavior of Pexc/f vs f. It has been found that the number n of the simultaneously active 'Magnetic Objects' linearly varies as n = n0 + Hexc/H0 as a function of the dynamic field Hexc in the range below about 120 Hz, whereas n approximately follows a law of the form n = n0 + (Hexc/H0)^m with 1 < m < 2 in the range far above 100 Hz and not more than 1000 Hz. The values of the field HO in principle related to the microstructure and the domain structure have been calculated for the three states.

Formation and mechanical properties of ductile Fe-based amorphous alloys using a cast iron with minor addition of B and Al

Fe-based amorphous alloys with ductility were synthesized using the commercial cast iron QT50 (denoted as QT) with the combining minor addition of B and Al by single roller melt-spinning. The melt-spun (QT1-xBx)99Al1 (x is from 0.006wt% to 0.01wt%) amorphous alloys exhibit onset crystallization temperatures and Curie temperatures of 759-780 and 629-642 K respectively, and whi- ch increase with B content. The amorphous ribbons are ductile and can be bent 180° without breaking. With the increase in B content from 0.006wt% to 0.01wt%, the Vickers microhardness of the amorphous alloys increases from Hv 830 to Hv 1110. The effects of the additional B and Al elements on the glass forming ability and mechanical properties were also discussed.

Cr_2O_3 BASE CERAMIC COATING ON ALUMINUM ALLOYS FORMED BY CHEMICAL REACTIONS

A newly developed method is introduced for producing Cr 2O 3 base ceramic coating on aluminum alloys. On the basis of properly selecting base reactions, slurry is prepared and then applied onto the substrate surface. By chemical reactions taken place in situ on the surface of aluminum alloy at relative low temperature, Cr 2O 3 base ceramic coating is formed. By means of scanning electron microscopy, the coating microstructure and the bonding mechanism are studied. X ray diffraction analysis is also used to investigate the chemical composition of the coating. The coating formation mechanism is further discussed. With a pin on disk tester, wear test is made to evaluate the wear performances of the coating. The results show that by applying the coating on aluminum alloy, the wear decreases 5 times in comparation to that without coating.

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of nano-crystallization of Fe-based amorphous alloys with early transition metals

The addition of early transition metals(ETMs)into Fe-based amorphous alloys is practically found to be effective in reducing theα-Fe grain size in crystallization process.In this paper,by using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations,the mechanism of the effect of two typical ETMs(Nb and W)on nano-crystallization is studied.It is found that the diffusion ability in amorphous alloy is mainly determined by the bonding energy of the atom rather than the size or weight of the atom.The alloying of B dramatically reduces the diffusion ability of the ETM atoms,which prevents the supply of Fe near the grain surface and consequently suppresses the growth ofα-Fe grains.Moreover,the difference in grain refining effectiveness between Nb and W could be attributed to the larger bonding energy between Nb and B than that between W and B.

Structure and properties of ceramic coatings formed on aluminum alloys by microarc oxidation

The thick and hard ceramic coatings were deposited on 2024 Al alloy by microarc oxidation in the electrolytic solution. Microstructure, phase composition and wear resistance of the oxide coatings were investigated by SEM,XRD and friction and wear tester. The microhardness and thickness of the oxide coatings were measured. The results show that the ceramic coating is mainly composed ofα-Al2O3 andγ-Al2O3. During oxidation, the temperature in the microarc discharge channel is very high to make the local coating molten. From the surface to interior of the coating, microhardness increases gradually. The microhardness of the ceramic coating is HV1800, and the microarc oxidation coatings greatly improve the antiwear properties of aluminum alloys.

NOTCH WEAR OF MACHINING NICKEL BASED ALLOYS WITH CERAMIC TOOLS

The performances of mixed ceramic and sialon ceramic tools in machining nickel based alloy are tested.The negative cutting edge inclination and small tool lead angle are recommended for reducing ceramic tool failure. So called“notching at depth of cut”is not actually at the depth of cutting line, but out of cutting area。 The real reason of notching is caused by shocking of “sawtooth”on sawtooth- shaped burr and fin- shaped edges of chip

Tribological properties of nanostructured Al_2O_3-40%TiO_2 multiphase ceramic particles reinforced Ni-based alloy composite coatings

The Ni-based alloy composite coatings reinforced by nanostructured Al2O3-40%TiO2 multiphase ceramic particles were prepared on the surface of 7005 aluminum alloy by plasma spray technology. The microstructure and tribological properties of the composite coatings were researched. The results show that the composite coatings mainly consist of γ-Ni, α-Al2O3, γ-Al2O3 and rutile-TiO2 etc, and exhibit lower friction coefficients and wear losses than the Ni-based alloy coatings at different loads and speeds. The composite coating bears low contact stress at 3 N and its wear mechanism is micro-cutting wear. As loads increase to 6-12 N, the contact stress is higher than the elastic limit stress of worn surface, and the wear mechanisms change into multi-plastic deformation wear, micro-brittle fracture wear and abrasive wear. With the increase of speeds, the contact temperature of worn surface increases. The composite coating experiences multi-plastic deformation wear, fatigue wear and adhesive wear.

Effects of current density on microstructure and properties of plasma electrolytic oxidation ceramic coatings formed on 6063 aluminum alloy

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) ceramic coatings were fabricated in a silicate-based electrolyte with the addition of potassium fluorozirconate (K2ZrF6) on 6063 aluminum alloy, and the effects of current density on microstructure and properties of the PEO coatings were studied. It was found that pore density of the coatings decreased with increasing the current density. The tribological and hardness tests suggested that the ceramic coating produced under the current density of 15 A/dm2showed the best mechanical property, which matched well with the phase analysis. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization curves proved that the coating obtained under 15 A/dm2 displayed the best anti-corrosion property, which was directly connected with morphologies of coatings.

Effect of casting vacuum on thermodynamic and corrosion properties of Fe-based glassy alloy

The effect of casting vacuum on thermodynamic and corrosion properties of Fe61Co7Zr8Mo5W2B17 in shape of cylinder of 3 mm in diameter and ribbon of 20?40μm in thickness and 2?3 mm in width were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dilatometer (DIL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical station. It is found that high casting vacuum can improve the glass forming ability (GFA), the contraction degree during heating, and the pitting resistance of the glassy alloy, which can be ascribed to the fact that the dissolution of tungsten in the melt is improved under the high casting vacuum.

Interface characteristics of Al_2O_3－13%TiO_2 ceramic coatings prepared by laser cladding

Al2O3-13%TiO2 （mass fraction） coatings, prepared by laser cladding on nickel-based alloy, were heated using high frequency induction sources. The coating microstructure and the interface between bond coating and ceramic coating were characterized by SEM, XRD and EDS. The results show that two-layer substructure exists in the ceramic coating： one layer evolving from fully melted region where the sintered grains grow fully; another layer resembling the liquid-phase-sintered structure consisting of three-dimensional net where the melted Al2O3 particles are embedded in the TiO2-rich matrix. The mechanism of the two-layer substructure formation is also explained in terms of the melting and flattening behavior of the powders during laser cladding processing. The spinel compounds NiAl2O4 and acicular compounds Cr2O3 are discovered in the interface between bond coating and ceramic coating. It proves that the chemical reactions in the laser cladding process will significantly enhance the coating adhesion.

Degradation behavior of austenite, ferrite, and martensite present in biodegradable Fe-based alloys in three protein-rich pseudo-physiological solutions

This study investigates the degradation behavior of three distinct Fe-based alloys immersed in three pseudo-physiological solutions.These alloys,which have varied Mn and C contents,include a commercially available Fe-0.15C alloy,namely Fe–C,and two newly developed alloys,that is Fe–5Mn-0.2C(namely Fe–5Mn)and Fe–18Mn-0.6C(namely Fe–18Mn).The aim was to understand the effect of alloying elements and the testing solution on the in-vitro degradation behavior of these Fe-based materials.Static immersion degradation and potentiodynamic corrosion tests were carried out using three pseudo-physiological solutions with albumin supply,that is modified Hanks’saline solution(MHSS),phosphate buffered saline solution(PBS),and sodium chloride solution(NaCl).After two weeks of static immersion,the results revealed that Fe–5Mn,characterized by a mixture of ferrite and martensite,showed the highest degradation rate,while Fe–C,composed solely of ferrite,showed the lowest rate of degradation.The predominant degradation products in MHSS and PBS were phosphates and carbonates.In PBS,these products formed a remarkably stable protective layer on the surface,contributing to the lowest degradation rate.In contrast,porous hydroxides appeared as the main degradation products for samples immersed in NaCl solution,leading to the highest degradation rate.These results provided important insights into the customization of Fe–Mn–C alloys for a range of biomedical applications,meeting a variety of clinical requirements,and highlighting the considerable potential of Fe–Mn–C alloys for biomedical applications.

Surface hardening of Fe-based alloy powders by Nd:YAG laser cladding followed by electrospark deposition with WC-Co cemented carbide

This paper presents the results of a study concerned with the surface hardening of Fe-based alloys and WC-8Co cemented carbide by inte- grating laser cladding and the electrospark deposition processes. Specimens of low carbon steel were processed firstly by laser cladding with Fe-based alloy powders and then by electrospark deposition with WC-SCo cemented carbide. It is shown that, for these two treatments, the electrospark coating possesses finer microstructure than the laser coating, and the thickness and surface hardness of the electrospark coating can be substantially increased.

Preparation and structure of microarc oxidation ceramic coatings containing ZrO2 grown on LY12 Al alloy

Ceramic coatings containing ZrO2 were prepared in situ on LY12 aluminum alloy by microarc oxidation（MAO） in the mixed solution of zirconate and phosphate solution.The phase composition and morphology of the coatings were studied by XRD and SEM,respectively.The growing mechanism of ceramic coatings was discussed in a preliminary manner.The results show that with an increase in MAO time,the compactness of the coating improved and the thickness increased.From the inner layer to the coating surface,the content of Zr increased,while the content of Al decreased.In addition,the coating was composed of m-ZrO2,t-ZrO2,and a little amount of γ-Al2O3.With an increase in reaction time,the relative content of t-ZrO2 within the coating sharply decreased while the relative content of m-ZrO2 sharply increased,and then both generally kept at a constant level after 60 min.

Evolution of Residual Stresses in Micro-arc Oxidation Ceramic Coatings on 6061 Al Alloy

Most researches on micro-arc oxidation mainly focus on the application rather than discovering the evolution of residual stresses. However, residual stresses in the surface coatings of structural components have adverse effects on their properties, such as fatigue life, dimensional stability and corrosion resistance, etc. The micro-arc oxidation ceramic coatings are produced on the surfaces of 6061 aluminum alloy by a homemade asymmetric AC type of micro-arc oxidation equipment of 20 kW. A constant current density of 4.4___0.1 A/dm2 and a self-regulated composite electrolyte are used. The micro-arc oxidation treatment period ranges from 10 min to 40 min, and the thickness of the ceramic coatings is more than 20 Bin. Residual stresses attributed to 7-A1203 constituent in the coatings at different micro-arc oxidation periods are analyzed by an X-ray diffractometer using the sin2~u method. The analysis results show that the residual stress in the ceramic coatings is compressive in nature, and it increases first and then decreases with micro-arc oxidation time increase. The maximum stress value is 1 667_＋20 MPa for period of 20 min. Through analyzing the coating thickness, surface morphology and phase composition, it is found that the residual stress in the ceramic coatings is linked closely with the coating growth, the phase composition and the micro cracks formed. It is also found that both the heat treatment and the ultrasonic action release remarkably the residual compressive stress. The heat treatment makes the residual compressive stress value decrease 1 378 MPa. The ultrasonic action even alters the nature of the residual stress, making the residual compressive stress change into a residual tensile stress.

Effect of the Oxidation Time on Properties of Ceramic Coatings Produced on Ti-6Al-4V by Micro-Arc Oxidation

Ceramic coatings were prepared on Ti-6AI-4V alloy using ac micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in silicate-hypophosphate solution. Growth regularity and formation mechanism of ceramic coatings were discussed. It was found that during the first stage the growth rate of coatings toward the external surface was larger than that toward substrate and then the coating began to grow mainly towards Ti alloy. When the total coating thickness reaches a certain value, it would no longer increase. In addition, the variations of the composition and microstructure of ceramic coatings according to the depositing time were also investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The amount of rutile TiO2 gradually increased, whereas the amounts of the anatase TiO2 and amorphous phases first increased and then decreased slightly.

Properties of a reaction-bonded β-SiAlON ceramic doped with an FeMo alloy for application to molten aluminum environments

An FeMo-alloy-doped β-SiA1ON （FeMo/β-SiA1ON） composite was fabricated via a reaction-bonding method using raw materials of Si, Al2O3, A1N, FeMo, and Sm2O3. The effects of FeMo on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite were investi- gated. Some properties of the composite, including its bending strength at 700℃ and after oxidization at 700℃ for 24 h in air, thermal shock resistance and corrosion resistance to molten aluminum, were also evaluated. The results show that the density, toughness, bending strength, and thermal shock resistance of the composite are obviously improved with the addition of an FeMo alloy. In addition, other properties of the composite such as its high-temperature strength and oxidized strength are also improved by the addition of FeMo alloy, and its corrosion re- sistance to molten aluminum is maintained. These findings indicate that the developed FeMo/β-SiA1ON composite exhibits strong potential for application to molten aluminum environments.