Papers by Author: D.S. Almeida

Abstract: Gamma-TiAl alloys are potential replacements for nickel alloys and conventional titanium alloys in the cooler sections of turbine engines, as well as in orbital platform vehicles. The combination of high specific stiffness and good oxidation resistance at intermediate temperatures can provide significant weight savings. However, they have a limited plasticity at room temperature and the tendency to brittle fracture. Powder metallurgy is a near net shape process that allows the parts production with complex geometry at low costs. An improved plasticity of the Ti-Al alloys is received by adding alloying elements and by microstructure modification. An alloy of two-phase structure Ti–48Al–2Cr–2Nb (at.%) was investigated using the blended elemental technique. Samples were produced by mixing of initial metallic powders followed by uniaxial and cold isostatic pressing with subsequent densification by sintering at 1500 °C, in vacuum. It was shown that the samples presented a two-phase structure consisting of lamellar colonies of alternating layers of gamma and α2 phase.

Abstract: Thermomechanical and electrical properties of zirconia-based ceramics have led to a wide range of advanced and engineering ceramic applications like solid electrolyte in oxygen sensors, fuel cells and furnace elements and its low thermal conductivity has allowed its use for thermal barrier coatings for aerospace engine components. In this work, PSZ (partially stabilized zirconia) was studied to analyze the behavior during sintering in low oxygen partial pressure. Zirconia was partially stabilized with yttria 8 wt%. The sintering temperatures used were 1600, 1700, 1800 and 1900°C. The study of PSZ sintered in low oxygen partial pressure was done using Scanning Electron Microscope, X Ray Diffraction and density analysis. The values of samples density showed that the increasing in sintering temperature was favorable to the material densification. The monoclinic phase converted in tetragonal and cubic phases. The tetragonal phase maintains constant in all sintering temperatures, but the cubic phase increased at 1700 and 1800°C. The lattice parameters werecalculated and showed similar in all sintering temperature.

Abstract: Turbine blades of airplanes and thermoelectric plants work in adverse conditions, with corrosive environment and high temperature and pressure. One way to improve the life or the working temperature of the blades is by the use of special coatings over metallic material applied by Electron Beam – Physical Vapour Deposition (EB-PVD). The most usual material for this application is zirconia doped with yttria. Addition of niobia, as a co-dopant in the Y2O3-ZrO2 system, can reduce the thermal conductivity and improve mechanical properties of the coating. The purpose of this work is to show the influence of the addition of niobia on microstructure of ceramic coating taking in to consideration X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy observations. First result shows a columnar structure with only tetragonal phase in the ceramic coating in the chemical composition range studied.