Papers by Author: Kyosuke Yoshimi

Abstract: First of all, the as-cast microstructures of Mo-rich Mo-Si-B ternary alloys were investigated around the triple junction point of the primary Mo solid solution, Mo5SiB2 and Mo2B in this work, based on the liquidus projections of the Mo-Si-B system which have been reported in earlier studies. Subsequently, their microstructural evolution through heat treatment was investigated. Since Mo2B crystallizes out during solidification into a primary or secondary phase even though the alloy composition lies in the triangle of Mo-Mo5SiB2-Mo3Si in the Mo-Si-B equilibrium phase diagram, the as-cast microstructures include the non-equilibrated Mo2B in wide compositional ranges. However, Mo2B was completely decomposed during heat treatment at 1800 °C for 24 h and this contributed to the development of homogeneous, fine microstructures. On the other hand, since Mo2B was not decomposed perfectly during 24 h of 1600 °C heat treatment, as-cast microstructures largely remained. Therefore, it is realized that the heat treatment at 1800 °C is necessary to obtain well-developed microstructures of Mo-Si-B alloys.

Abstract: In this study, the distribution of colloidal nano-gold particles on the nanoporous surfaces of FeAl single crystals was investigated. Colloidal nano-gold particles were dropped onto the nanoporous surface, and their distribution was observed by TEM. Some of nano-gold particles located at the edges of nanopores. A few additional attempts to improve the wettability of the surfaces were made using surface treatments. As a result, the frequency of nano-gold particles put into nanopores was achieved up to 98.3%.

Abstract: The as-cast microstructure of Mg-5Al-3Ca-2Sm alloy consists of equiaxed α-Mg matrix, (Mg, Al)2Ca eutectic phase and Al-Sm rich intermetallic compounds. This eutectic phase of the extruded alloys was elongated to extrusion direction and size of this phase was finered compare to that of as-cast alloys because of severe deformation during hot extrusion. After hot extrusion, the average grain size of Mg-5Al-3Ca and Mg-5Al-3Ca-2Sm alloys was 4.8 *m and 3.8 *m, respectively. In load-unload hardness test, penetration depth was decreased with added Sm and after extrusion procedure because of grain size refining by addition Sm and large deformation. Hardness value of the alloys containing Sm was higher than that of Mg-5Al-3Ca alloy due to grain refining and formation Al-Sm rich intermetallic compound at gain boundary and α-Mg matrix. Maximum hardness value was obtained at the extruded Mg-5Al-3Ca-2Sm alloy at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: In this study, rapidly solidified Co-Sn-Ti and Co-Sn-Si alloys were investigated as candidate cathodic materials for lithium-ion batteries. (Co0.5Sn0.5)1-xTix (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) and (Co0.5Sn0.5)0.9Si0.1 alloys were produced by Ar arc-melting. These alloys were further rapidly solidified into ribbons by the single-roll melt-spinning method. Constituent phases in the ribbons were identified by XRD, indicating that all of the alloys were composed of crystalline multi-phases with no amorphous phase. The microstructure of the ribbons was observed by SEM and TEM, and the chemical composition of constituent phases was analyzed by TEM-EDS. It is found from the SEM and TEM observations that the grain size of the constituent phases ranged from tens to hundreds nanometers due to the rapid solidification effect.

Abstract: The apparent activation energy for rupture life sometimes changes from a high value of short term creep to a low value of long term creep. This change results in overestimation of rupture life recognized recently in advanced high Cr ferritic steels. The present study examined how to detect the decrease of activation energy in 9-12 %Cr steels with tempered martensitic lath microstructure. During aging without stress hardness of the tempered martensite microstructures remains almost constant in short term, whereas it decreases with increasing time after long term exposure. The onset of hardness drop can be a good measure of the decrease of activation energy. Causes of the hardness drop and the decrease of activation energy are discussed.

Abstract: In this study, the high temperature oxidation behavior of polycrystalline MoSi2 in a low-pressure atmosphere was investigated. Polycrystalline MoSi2 was produced by the spark plasma sintering process. Oxidation tests were carried out at 1500°C at either 10Torr or 760Torr in an Ar-20%O2 atmosphere. For both conditions, the weight change peaked at the initial oxidation stage, and then their weights gradually increased with increasing oxidation time. The sample weight became heavier in the ambient pressure than in the low-pressure, but the evaporation oxidation was not significant in the low-pressure condition. After the low-pressure oxidation tests, the formation of Mo5Si3 in the MoSi2 substrate was identified. The oxidation resistance of MoSi2 at 1500°C is discussed based on the obtained results.

Abstract: Isothermal oxidation behavior of Al added Mo-Si-B in-situ composites was investigated under Ar-20%O2 and air atmosphere over the temperature range of 1073–1673 K. The Al added Mo-Si-B composites ((Mo-8.7mol%Si-17.4mol%B)-1mol%Al) were prepared by arc-melting, and homogenized at 2073 K for 24 h in an Ar-flow atmosphere. The ternary Mo-Si-B in-situ composite exhibited a rapid mass loss at the initial oxidation stage and then the passive oxidation after the substrates were sealed with borosilicate glass in the temperature range of 1173–1473 K, whereas it exhibited a rapid mass gain around 1073 K. On the other hand, the Al addition significantly improved the oxidation resistance of Mo-Si-B in-situ composites at temperatures from 1073–1573 K. These excellent oxidation resistances are considered to be due to the rapid formation of a continuous, dense scale of Al-Si-O complex oxides.

Abstract: The aims of this research are to investigate the effect of Sm addition in Mg-Al-Ca alloys on microstructure and mechanical properties. Sm addition to Mg-5Al-3Ca based alloys results in the change from dendritic to equiaxed grain morphorlogy and formation of Al-Sm rich itermetallic compounds at grain boundary and α-Mg matrix. And these Al-Sm rich intermetallic compounds were dispersed homogeously and stabilized at high temperature. And maximum yield and ultimate strength value was obtained at Mg-5Al-3Ca-2Sm alloys at elevated temperature because of homogeneous dispersion of stable Al-Sm rich intermetallic compound at high temperature.

Abstract: As samarium addition was increased, α- Mg matrix morphology was changed from dendritic to equiaxed grains and average value of grain size was decreased from 101.6㎛ to 39.3㎛. Samarium addition to Mg-5Al-3Ca based alloys resulted in the formation of Mg-Al-Sm thernary intermetallic compounds at grain boundarys and α-Mg matrix grains. In these alloys, two kinds of eutectic structure were observed; coarse irregular-shape structure at grain boundary and fine needle-shape structure in the α-Mg matrix grain. It is found that the yield strength and ultimate strength showed the maximum value of 109.1MPa and 139.3 at Mg-5Al-3Ca-2Sm alloy, respectively.

Abstract: Monolithic Zr65Al7.5Ni10Pd17.5 and Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5 hardly had plastic deformability in tension at room temperature, although Zr65Al7.5Ni10Pd17.5 showed a large plastic strain in compression. A depressed zone that is the evidence of viscous flow deformation (so-called viscous flow depression zone; VFD-zone) was observed for Zr65Al7.5Ni10Pd17.5 around the edge at the point of failure on its specimen surfaces. However, no VFD-zone was seen for Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5. Thus, a clear difference in tensile plastic behavior was found between Zr65Al7.5Ni10Pd17.5 and Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5. A structural change in the vicinity of the fracture surface of Zr65Al7.5Ni10Pd17.5 was measured by micro-beam X-ray diffractometry (MB-XRD). We may be able to discuss the room temperature plasticity of Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5-xPdx bulk metallic glasses correlating with the phase stability of the amorphous and icosahedral quasi-crystalline phases.