Papers by Keyword: Nanocrystalline Material

Abstract: In situ UV-LIGA assembled robust micro check valves with large flow rates (>10 ml/s, displacement related), high-pressure support ability (>10 MPa) and high operational frequencies (>10 kHz) made of nano-structured nickel were presented in this paper. The microvalve consists of an array of 80 single micro valves to achieve the required flow rates. Test results show that the forward flow rate is about 19 ml/s under pressure of 90Psi. The backward flow rate is negligible. The reliability of the valve is ensured by the valve design and nanostructured nickel realized. The tested tensile strength of a nano structured nickel is about 1GPa. The strength of SU-8 is 50MPa, which is more than 50% higher that fabricated with a standard process.

Abstract: The radiotracer technique was applied to measure self- (Fe, Ni) and solute- (Ag) grain boundary diffusion in nanocrystalline Fe-40wt.%Ni alloy. The nanocrystalline material was prepared by pressureless sintering of the nanoalloy powders. The nano-sized crystallites were found to be clustered in micrometer-large agglomerates. Two types of internal interfaces with fundamentally different properties exist in the nanomaterial: the grain boundaries between the nanocrystallites and the interfaces between the agglomerates. A complete and consistent model of the diffusion processes in such material is elaborated. Whereas the nanocrystalline boundaries reveal diffusivities, which are similar to those in coarse-grained material, diffusion along interagglomerate interfaces occurs faster by orders of magnitude. This behavior is explained by a nonrelaxed structure of the inter-agglomerate interfaces.

Abstract: In this study, a deformation mechanism map of metallic nanocrystalline materials (NCMs) using the phase mixture model is proposed. It is based on recent modelling that appears to provide a conclusive description of the phenomenology and the mechanisms underlying the mechanical properties of NCMs. The proposed models adopted the concept of a ‘phase mixture’ in which the grain interior and the grain boundaries are treated as separate phases. The volume fraction of this grain boundary ‘phase’ may be quite appreciable in a NCM. Based on the theoretical model that provides an adequate description of the grain size dependence of plasticity covering all grain size range from coarse down to the nanoscale, the tensile deformation response of NCMs, especially focusing on the deformation mechanisms was investigated. The deformation mechanism map is newly proposed with axes of strain rate, grain size and temperature.

Abstract: A nanostructured surface layer on a pure iron sample was prepared by surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). The thermal stability of SMAT sample was investigated at different temperatures with or without a high magnetic field (H =12T). It was found that a high magnetically annealing enhanced grain growth at the early stage of annealing, and produced a uniform nanocrystalline grain structure. After homogeneous grains developed, further grain growth became restrained.

Abstract: Application of TiNi shape memory alloy in biomedical field is rapidly expanding. Some of the applications calls for non-conventional properties, which may require new methods of thermomechanical treatment and surface modification. In the present study, the effect of nanocrystallization/amorphization by various method of severe plastic deformation, such as, shot peening, cold rolling and high pressure torsion, was investigated on properties of TiNi shape memory alloys. Shot peening using iron based metallic glass media was found to be an effective method to obtain the amorphous surface. Surface amorphization improved the corrosion resistance. Nanocrystalline TiNi exhibited peculiar superelastic properties. Correlation between the microstructure and phase transformation in nanostructured TiNi was discussed.

Abstract: WC-10Co-0.8VC nanocrystalline powders were sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and hot pressing sintering (HPS), and the microstructure and properties were compared. Results show that, sintered at 1300°C, the sample prepared by SPS for only 3 minutes has higher density than that prepared by HPS for 60 minutes. SEM and SPM observation shows SPS at 1200°C has a more uniform and finer microstructure, and most of the WC grains are smaller than 100nm. It has a relative density of 95.1%, HV30 of 1887, and KIC of 11.5 MPam1/2. If a suitable sintering parameter is chosen, SPS is a promising consolidation technique to prepare nanocrystalline WC-10Co-0.8VC with improved properties.

Abstract: Microstructure and hardness of ternary Al–Zn–Mg alloys were studied both in as cast state and after high pressure torsion (HPT) with 5 torsions (shear strain about 6). The size of (Al) grains and of reinforcing second phase precipitates decreases drastically after HPT reaching nanometer range. During HPT, the Zn- and Mg-rich supersaturated (Al) solid solution decomposes and reaches the equilibrium state corresponding to the room temperature. In the as cast state the hardness of the supersaturated solid solutions increases with increasing Zn and Mg content due to the solid-solution hardening. However, after HPT the work hardening and Hall-Petch hardening due to the decreasing grain size competes with softening due to the decomposition of a supersaturated solid solution. In the net effect, the severe plastic deformation results in softening of ternary Al–Zn– Mg alloys.

Abstract: Thermal- and stress-induced martensitic transformation was investigated on TiNi shape memory alloys subjected to severe plastic deformation (SPD) by cold rolling. TEM observation revelaed the sample is a mixture of nanocrystalline and amorphous after 40% cold rolling. DSC analysis suggested that the martensitic transformation was suppressed when the thickness reduction was over 25% reduction. Aging at lower temperatures (573 ~ 673 K, 3.6 ks) restores the phase transformations, but to a limited extent. The stress-strain curves of nanocrystalline/amorphous TiNi are characterized by absence of stress-plateau and small hysteresis.

Abstract: This paper gives an overview of our recent works on the effect of magnetic annealing, i.e. annealing in a magnetic field, on the evolution of texture and grain boundary microstructure in ultra-fine grained and nanocrystalline magnetic materials differently produced; rapidly solidified Fe-6.5mass%Si ribbons, electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel, and nanocrystalline Fe78Si9B13 alloy ribbon crystallized from the amorphous state. It was found that the effect of magnetic annealing was powerful and useful for controlling grain growth resulting in the evolution of different types of texture and grain boundary microstructure, depending on the condition of magnetic annealing. In particular, the magnetic crystallization of amorphous Fe78Si9B13 alloy was found to be powerful for producing a nanocrystalline material with a sharp texture and a special grain boundary microstructure.