Assessment of gas tungsten arc welding thermal cycles on Inconel 718 alloy

Heat moving source models along with transient heat analysis by finite element method were used to determine weld thermal cycles and isothermal sections obtained from the application of a gas tungsten arc welding beads on Inconel 718 plates. Analytical (Rosenthal’s thick plate model) and finite element results show an acceptable approximation with the experimental weld thermal cycles. The isothermal sections determined by numerical simulation show a better approximation with the experimental welding profile for double-ellipse model heat distribution than Gauss model. To analyze the microstructural transformation produced by different cooling rates in the fusion and heat affected zones, Vickers microhardness measurements (profile and mapping representation) were conducted. A hardness decrement for the heat affected zone (~200 HV0.2) and fusion zone (~240 HV0.2) in comparison with base material (~350 HV0.2) was observed. This behavior has been attributed to the heterogeneous solubilization process of the γ″ phase (nickel matrix), which, according to the continuous-cooling-transformation curve, produced the Laves phase,δ and MC transition phases, generating a loss in hardness close to the fusion zone.

Effect of electromagnetic interaction on microstructure and corrosion resistance of 7075 aluminium alloy during modified indirect electric arc welding process

The effects of applying an electromagnetic interaction of low intensity (EMILI) on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of 7075-T651 Al alloy plates (13 mm in thickness) during modified indirect electric arc (MIEA) welding were investigated. The welding process was conducted in a single pass with a heat input of ~1.5 kJ/mm. The microstructural observations of the welds were correlated with the effect of EMILI on the local mechanical properties and the corrosion resistance in natural seawater by means of microhardness measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. Microstructural characterization of the welds revealed a grain refinement in the weld metal due to the electromagnetic stirring induced by EMILI of 3 mT during welding. In addition, observations in the scanning electron microscope showed that the precipitation of Cu-rich phases and segregation of eutectics were reduced in the heat affected zone (HAZ) also as an effect of EMILI. The high corrosion dissolution of the 7075-T651 welds in natural seawater and the extent of overaging in the HAZ were reduced when welding with EMILI of 3 mT. Thus, EMILI along with the MIEA technique may lead to welded joints with better microstructural characteristics, improved mechanical properties in the HAZ and reduced electrochemical activity.

Effect of Sn on synthesis of nanocrystalline Ti-based alloy with fcc structure

The effect of the amount of Sn on the formation of fcc phase in Ti-13 Ta-x Sn(x=3,6,9 and 12,at.%)alloys was studied.The alloys were synthesized by mechanical alloying using a planetary mill,jar and balls of stabilized yttrium.Using Rietveld refinement,it was found that the obtained fcc phase has crystallite size smaller than 10 nm and microstrain larger than 10-3.Both conditions are required to form an fcc phase in Ti-based alloys.For all samples,the microstructure of the fcc phase consists of equiaxial crystallites with sizes smaller than 10 nm.The largest presence of fcc phase in the studied Ti alloy was found with 6 at.%Sn,because this alloy exhibits the largest microstrain(1.5×10-2)and crystallite size of 6.5 nm.Experimental data reveal that a solid solution and an amorphous phase were formed during milling.The necessary conditions to promote the formation of solid solution and amorphous phases were determined using thermodynamic calculations.When the amount of Sn increases,the energy required to form an amorphous phase varies from approximately 10 to approximately-5 k J/mol for 3 and 12 at.%Sn,respectively.The thermodynamic calculations are in agreement with XRD patterns analysis and HRTEM results.

Synthesis of Cu nanoparticles by chemical reduction method

Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) have been synthesized through an easy route by chemical reduction at room temperature. The Cu^2+ ions were reduced and stabilized with sodium borohydride and polyvinylpyrrolidone, respectively. The effect of the variation of the reducing agent/precursor-salt (RA/PS) ratio on the size and morphology of the CuNPs was evaluated. The synthesized material was studied by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The UV-Vis spectra showed a CuNPs plasmon peak at 569 nm and another peak belonging to Cu2O at 485 nm. XRD analysis showed the fcc-Cu phase with a small amount of fcc-Cu2O compound. SEM and TEM studies displayed that small semispherical CuNPs of approximately 7 nm were obtained at the RA/PS ratio of 2.6. The excess of polyvinylpyrrolidone stabilizer played an essential role in preventing CuNPs oxidation. On the other side, Cu2O polyhedral particles with larger sizes up to 150 nm were identified in the RA/PS ratio range of 2.0-1.84. In addition, Cu2O particles having star morphologies with quantum confinement at their tips were obtained at the RA/PS ratio of 1.66.