Papers by Author: Jie Wen Huang

Abstract: In situ aluminum matrix composites were fabricated through exothermic dispersive (XD) reaction from a powder mixture of Al and Cr₂O₃. The reaction mechanism was investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. When the temperature increases to around 1050K, Al can react with Cr₂O₃ to form the reinforcments Al₂O₃ particles and CrAl₄ blocks. With the increase of heating rate, DSC analysis shows that the reaction peak shifts to a higher temperature and the corresponding ignition temperature also increases. Based on DSC curves with different heating rates, the activation energy can be calculated and its value is 191.8 kJ/mol.

Abstract: As an active metal, chromium is easy to form oxides film on the surface, which acts as an obstacle to the nitrogen diffusion in plasma nitriding. Rare earth (RE) was introduced into the conventional plasma nitriding (CPN) to improve the nitriding behavior. Chromium coatings were treated by CPN and rare earth plasma nitriding (REPN) at 620°C for 5 and 10 hours respectively. Comparative study showed that the addition of RE prompted greatly the formation of higher nitrogen containing phase CrN, rather than Cr2N. It created a crack-free, much denser and thicker nitrides layer, which contributed to the increase of hardness. The dynamic ultra micro hardness of the samples treated by REPN was nearly 1600GPa, which was much higher than the original and the CPN treated samples. The conclusion could be drawn that compared to CPN, REPN are more efficient for chromium coating nitriding.

Abstract: Plasma arc, a kind of high energy density beam, is proposed as one kind of surface treatments in this paper to improve the adhesive properties of the chromium coatings to the steel substrate. Scratch tests are used to obtain the critical load (Lc) of the coatings. The wear behaviors are evaluated by a reciprocating ball-on-flat wear machine and the wear tracks of the coating were characterized by scanning electronic microscope (SEM). Results show that plasma arc treatment could promote the adhesive and the wear performances of the chromium coatings. Optimal value of Lc and the wear resistance of the treated coatings could be obtained when the average output energy density of the plasma arc (E) grow to 1.05×105J/m2. The comparative study indicates that the promotion of the adhesion could be attributed to the formation of the inter-diffused alloyed layer and the improved hardness distribution. This promotion then contributes to the improvement of the wear performance, which makes up, even exceeds the loss of it caused by the drop of the coatings hardness.

Abstract: Nanostructure surface layer was fabricated on a low carbon steel cylinder specimen by means of circulation rolling plastic deformation (CRPD), and the effect of annealing temperature on microstructure and properties of surface nanocrystalline structure was studied. The microstructure of the surface layer on the samples was observed by transmission electron microscopy and the microhardness variation along the depth was measured on the cross-sectional samples by using microhardness instrument. After CRPD treatment for 250min, the average grain size was about 10nm in the top surface layer and increased with an increment of the distance from the top surface. The surface nanocrystallization samples were annealed at 200°C, 300, 400°C and 500°C for 30min respectively. The nanocrystallization grain of surface layer did not grow for samples after annealed at 200°C and 300°C. After surface nanocrystallization by CRPD treatment the microhadness of top surface obviously increase from 220HV0.1 to 520HV0.1.

Abstract: In this paper, the circulation rolling plastic deformation(CRPD) surface nanocrystallization technology is proposed based on the idea that the severe plastic deformation can induce grain refinement. The equipment of CRPD is designed and manufactured. A nanocrystallization surface layer was successfully obtained in a column sample of low carbon steel. The average grain size in the top surface layer is about 18 nm, and gradually increases with the distance from the surface. The hardness increases gradually from about 200HV0.1 in the matrix to about 600HV0.1 in the surface layer.