A Finite Difference Method for Determining Interdiffusivity of Aluminide Coating Formed on Superalloy

A numerical method has been developed to extract the composition-dependent interdiffusivity from the concentration profiles in the aluminide coating prepared by pack cementation. The procedure is based on the classic finite difference method (FDM). In order to simplify the model, effect of some alloying elements on interdiffusivity can be negligible. Calculated results indicate the interdiffusivity in aluminide coating strongly depends on the composition and give the formulas used to calculate interdiffusivity at 850, 950 and 1050癈. The effect on interdiffusivity is briefly discussed.

RELATION BETWEEN EFFECTIVE INTERDIFFUSIVITY AND MODULATION WAVELENGTH IN Fe-Ti MULTILAYERS

One-dimensional artificial scattering planes can form in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the films when the compositional modulation period is shorter. Similar to real crystal lattice planes, these artificial scattering planes produce Bragg diffraction with X-ray radiation. Since the modulation period is longer than the general lattice period, the Bragg diffraction peak appears at the position of lower angle (2θ is generally lower than 10°). The diffraction peaks produced by compositional modulation are called modulation peaks.

Effects of Annealing on Atomic Interdiffusion and Microstructures in Fe/Si Systems

Pure metal Fe films with thickness of about 100nm were deposited on Si （100） substrates by DC magnetron sputtering. Annealing was subsequently performed in a vacuum furnace in the temperature range of 600-1000℃ for 2h. The samples were characterized by means of Rutherford backscattering （RBS） with 3MeV carbon ions. The RBS data were fitted with SIMNRA 6.0, and the results show the atomic interdiffusion in Fe/Si systems. The microstructures and crystal structures were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffrac- tion. The effects of annealing on atomic interdiffusion, silicide formation, and microstructures in Fe/Si systems were analyzed.

Atomic interdiffusion in Ni-Cu system under high magnetic field

The effect of high magnetic field on the atomic interdiffusion in Ni-Cu system was studied using the Cu/Ni/Cu diffusion couples. During the atomic interdiffusion in Ni-Cu system, it was found that the interdiffusion coefficients increased with the increase of molar fraction of Ni atoms in the interdiffusion zones when the couples were annealed with or without the magnetic field. It was noted that all corresponding interdiffusion coefficients under the magnetic field are smaller than those without the magnetic field. The results demonstrate that the magnetic field retards the atomic interdiffusion in Ni-Cu system. This retardation is achieved through reducing the frequency factors but not changing the interdiffusion activation energies.

The Influence of Rapid Thermal Annealing on SiGe/Si Multiple-Quantum Wells p_-i_-n Photodiodes

The influence of thermal treatment on Si 1-x Ge x/Si multiple-quantum wells (MQW) p-i-n photodiodes has been investigated by photocurrent spectroscopy combined with X-ray double crystal diffraction.The cutoff wavelength is significantly reduced due to the Si-Ge interdiffusion and partial relaxation of the strained SiGe alloy.The values of the blue shift increase slowly with the annealing temperatures in the range of 750℃ to 850℃.However,the nonlinear changes in photocurrent intensities of the samples annealed at different temperatures have been observed,which is mainly dominated by the generation of misfit dislocations and the reduction of the point defects in the heating process.

Influence of deformation passes on interface of SiC_p/Al composites consolidated by equal channel angular pressing and torsion

Powder mixture of pure Al and oxidized Si C was consolidated into 10%（mass fraction） Si Cp/Al composites at 250 °C by equal channel angular pressing and torsion（ECAP-T）. The valence states of Si for Si C particulates and Al for the as-consolidated composites were detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS）. The interfacial bondings of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy（SEM）. The elements at the interface were linearly scanned by energy dispersive spectroscopy（EDS） and the EDS mappings of Si and Al were also obtained. The values of the nanohardness at different positions within 2 μm from the boundary of Si C particulate were measured. The results show that after ECAP-T, interfacial reaction which inhibits injurious interfacial phase occurs between Al and the oxide layer of Si C, and the element interdiffusion which can enhance interfacial bonding exists between Al and Si C. As ECAP-T passes increase, the reaction degree is intensified and the element interdiffusion layer is thickened, leading to the more smooth transition of the hardness from Si C to Al.

Role of Kirkendall effect in diffusion processes in solids

In the 1940s, KIRKENDALL showed that diffusion in binary solid solutions cannot be described by only one diffusion coefficient. Rather, one has to consider the diffusivity of both species. His findings changed the treatment of diffusion data and the theory of diffusion itself. A diffusion-based framework was successfully employed to explain the behaviour of the Kirkendall plane. Nonetheless, the complexity of a multiphase diffusion zone and the morphological evolution during interdiffusion requires a physico-chemical approach. The interactions in binary and more complex systems are key issues from both the fundamental and technological points of view. This paper reviews the Kirkendall effect from the circumstances of its discovery to recent developments in its understanding, with broad applicability in materials science and engineering.

Interdiffusion behavior between Cr and Zr and its effect on the microcracking behavior in the Cr-coated Zr-4 alloy

High-temperature chromium(Cr)-zirconium(Zr)interdiffusion commonly occurs in Cr-coated zircaloys applied for enhanced accident-tolerant fuel(ATF)claddings.Such interdiffusion changes the interfacial microstructure and thus the fracture mechanism of the coating under external loading.In this study,the interdiffusion behavior in a magnetron sputtered Cr coating deposited on a Zr-4 alloy was studied in a vacuum environment at 1160C.In addition,the effect of interdiffusion on the microcracking behavior of the Cr coating was determined by in situ three-point bending tests.The experimental results show that the interdiffusion behavior resulted in the formation of a ZrCr2 layer,accompanied by the consumption of Cr coating and interfacial roughening.The growth of the diffusion layer followed a nearly parabolic law with respect to annealing time,and the residual stress of the annealed coating decreased with increasing annealing time.Under external loading,a large number of cracks were generated in the brittle interlayer,and some interfacial cracks were formed and grew at the ZrCr2/Zr-4 interface.Despite the remarkable microcracks in the ZrCr2 layer,the vacuum-annealed Cr coating has significantly fewer cracks than the original coating,mainly because of the recrystallization of the coating during annealing.

Density of magnesium and magnesium–lithium alloys in solid and liquid states

New experimental data are presented on the density and thermal expansion of solid and liquid magnesium and ultralight magnesium–lithium alloys containing 23.03 and 30.02 at.% Li, respectively. The measurements were performed using the dilatometer method and the gamma-ray attenuation technique in the temperature range from 145 to 1244 K for magnesium and from 293 to ~1000 K for the alloys. The density changes during the solid?liquid phase transition were directly measured for Mg and the Mg70Li30 alloy. The temperature dependences and reference tables of the investigated volumetric properties were developed. A comparison of the obtained results with literature data was made. The study showed that the eutectic composition in the magnesium- lithium system differs from 23 at.% Li. The concentration dependence of molar volume of the magnesium-lithium liquid system was found to be almost linear in the interval of 0-30 at.% Li and deviated noticeably from the corresponding dependence for an ideal mixture.

Investigation of mechanical and diffusion properties in bcc Ti−Nb−Zr−Sn alloys via a high-throughput method

The mechanical and diffusion properties of bcc Ti−Nb−Zr−Sn alloys in the Ti-rich corner were analyzed through a high-throughput method with the combination of nanoindentation and diffusion couple techniques.Nine groups of quaternary Ti−Nb−Zr−Sn diffusion couples were prepared after annealing at 1273 K for 25 h.The composition-dependent mechanical properties were determined by nanoindentation and electron probe microanalysis(EPMA)techniques.Moreover,the corresponding interdiffusion coefficients were confirmed from the composition gradients of the quaternary diffusion couples using a pragmatic numerical inverse method.A composition-dependent database on the mechanical and diffusion properties was utilized to discuss the processability during the hot working.The results reveal that the solute elements Nb and Sn are strictly controlled to increase the hardness and wear resistance of Ti−Nb−Zr−Sn alloys,and the additional element Zr is mainly useful to improve the processability during the hot working.

High Temperature Oxidation Behavior of NiCrAlY Coating by Arc Ion Plating

A NiCrAlY coating was prepared on the cast Ni-base superalloy K17 using arc ion plating. The coating was uniform, dense and well adhesive to the substrate. The oxidation kinetic curves of the alloy K17 and the coating were obtained. The results indicated that the oxidation resistance of the alloy K17 was evidently improved with NiCrAlY coatings at 900∼1100°C. As oxidation temperature rising, the interdiffusion between the coatings and substrates was enhanced. Ti atoms diffused from the substrate to the surface of coating to form the oxide, which was one of the reasons for the decrement of oxidation resistance. The oxidation resistance of NiCrAlY coating was decreased due to the spalling of pieces of oxide.

High-throughput determination of mechanical and diffusion properties of Ti–Ta–Fe alloys

The mechanical and diffusion properties of Ti-Ta-Fe alloys in the Ti-rich region were investigated by utilizing a high-throughput method, with the combination of nanoindentation and diffusion couple techniques.Five groups of ternary Ti-Ta-Fe diffusion couples were prepared after annealing at 1273 K for 25 h. The composition-dependent mechanical properties of bcc Ti-Ta-Fe system were experimentally determined by means of nanoindentation and electron probe microanalysis(EPMA) techniques. Moreover, the interdiffusion coefficients of Ti-Ta-Fe alloys at 1273 K were confirmed from the composition gradients of the ternary diffusion couples with the support of a pragmatic numerical inverse method. A composition-dependent database on the mechanical and diffusion properties of Ti-Ta-Fe alloys was carefully established and utilized for the discussion of the processability during the hot working. The results indicated that the content of Fe should be controlled for the Ti alloys with high hardness and low Young’s modulus.

Oxidation and interdiffusion behavior of a germanium-modified silicide coating on an Nb–Si-based alloy

To investigate the interdiffusion behavior of Ge-modified silicide coatings on an Nb–Si-based alloy substrate,the coating was oxidized at 1250°C for 5,10,20,50,or 100 h.The interfacial diffusion between the(Nb,X)(Si,Ge)_2(X = Ti,Cr,Hf) coating and the Nb–Si based alloy was also examined.The transitional layer is composed of(Ti,Nb)_5(Si,Ge)_4 and a small amount of(Nb,X)_5(Si,Ge)_3.With increasing oxidation time,the thickness of the transitional layer increases because of the diffusion of Si from the outer layer to the substrate,which obeys a parabolic rate law.The parabolic growth rate constant of the transitional layer under oxidation conditions is 2.018 μm×h^(-1/2).Moreover,the interdiffusion coefficients of Si in the transitional layer were determined from the interdiffusion fluxes calculated directly from experimental concentration profiles.

Interdiffusion in the Fe_2O_3-TiO_2 system

Interdiffusion in the Fe203-TiO2 system was investigated by the diffusion couple method in the temperature range of 1323 to 1473 K. The diffusion concentration curves of Ti4＋ cations were obtained by electron probe microanalysis, according to which the Boltzmann-Matano method optimized by Broeder was used to calculate the interdiffusion coeffi- cients. The interdiffusion coefficients almost increased linearly with the mole fraction of Ti4＋ cations increasing, and they were in the range of 10-12-10-11cm2-s-1. The increase of temperature could also lead to the increase of the interdiffusion coefficients at a constant concentration of Ti4＋ cations. It was also found that the thickness growth of the diffusion layer obeyed the parabolic rate law.

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.

Study on interface between titanium-coated diamond and metal matrices

The XRD spectrum of titanium coated diamond showed the existence of titanium ca rbide on the interface between diamond and its titanium coating. The diffusions between titanium coating and metal matrices were stud ied by SEM. The SEM photographs revealed that titanium can interdiffuse with nic kel, cobalt, copper,iron and copper based alloy to a great extent to lead to th e disappearance of pure titanium layer and the formation of titanium diffusion l ayer. The results from transverse rupture strength test showed that ti tanium coating on diamond improved the bonding strength between diamond and metal matrices by 3.2% for Co based segment and 4.1% for Cu 10Sn based segment respectively.

Effect of Substrate Characteristics on Interdiffusion Coefficients of Ni and Al Atoms in β-NiAl Phase of Aluminide Coatings

Interdiffusion coefficients at 950℃ and 1050℃ are calculated by Wagner analysis method as a function of composition of β-NiAI phase. The β-NiAI phase is formed by pack cementation on surface of superalloy. Results of the calculation show that interdiffusion coefficients in β-NiAI phase strongly depend on the compositions and vary over several orders of magnitude. Compared with the interdiffusion coefficients in the stoichiometric β-NiAI phase, the interdiffusion coefficients in β-NiAI phase formed on superalloy is obviously small, probably due to the composition, complicated microstructure and precipitates. However, it could be seen clearly that the shapes of the diffusivity curves are very similar to each other. The similarity of the diffusion curves and the difference between interdiffusion coefficients imply that the compositions, microstructures and precipitates of superalloy have a distinctly adverse effect on the interdiffusion of Ni and Al atoms during aluminization, but do not change the essential characteristics of β-NiAI phase.

Behavior of NiCrAlY coating on the TC6 titanium alloy

A NiCrAlY coating was deposited on the TC6 titanium substrate by arc ion plating （ALP）. The structure and morphologies of the NiCrAlY coating were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and the influence of vacuum heat treatment on the element diffusion behavior was studied. The results showed that the y＇-Ni3Al phase was precipitated on the NiCrAlY coating after heat treatment. The Ni3（AI,Ti）, TiNi, and Ti2Ni intermetallic layers appeared at the interface from the outside to the inside at 700℃, and the thickness of the intermetallic layers increased with the increase in temperature. At 700℃ Ti and Ni were the major diffusion elements, and the diffusion of Cr was observed when the heat treatment temperature increased up to 870℃. The violent inward diffusion of Ni at 950℃ resulted in the degradation of the NiCrAlY coating.

Interfacial characteristics and properties of a low-clad-ratio AA4045/AA3003 cladding billet fabricated by semi-continuous casting

A low-clad-ratio AA4045/AA3003 cladding billet was fabricated using a semi-continuous casting process and was subsequently extruded indirectly into a cladding pipe. The temperature distribution near the interface was measured. The microstructures, elemental distribution, Vickers hardness around the bonding interface, and the interfacial shear strength were examined. The results showed that the interface temperature rebounded when AA4045 melt contacted the supporting layer. The two alloys bonded well, with few defects, via the diffusion of Si and Mn in the temperature range from 569℃ to 632℃. The mean shear strength of the bonding interface was 82.3 MPa, which was greater than that of AA3003（75.8 MPa）, indicating that the two alloys bonded with each other metallurgically via elemental interdiffusion. Moreover, no relative slip occurred between the two alloys during the extrusion process.

A repeated interdiffusion method for efficient planar formamidinium perovskite solar cells

A repeated interdiffusion method is described for phase-stable and high-quality （FA,MA）PbI3 film. The crys- tallization and growth of the perovskite films can be well controlled by adjusting the reactant concentrations. With this method, dense, smooth perovskite films with large crystals have been obtained. Finally, a PCE of 16.5% as well as a steady-state efficiency of 16.3% is achieved in the planar perovskite solar cell.