Papers by Keyword: Reactive Diffusion

Abstract: Multifilamentary bronze-processed Nb3Sn-based composites have been studied by the methods of TEM and SEM. Ti as a doping element required for an enhancement of superconducting characteristics, especially in high magnetic fields, was inserted either in a bronze matrix, or in Nb filaments of a composite. It has been found that Ti diffuses into the growing Nb3Sn layer in both cases, and affects positively its structure and superconducting characteristics of a composite as a whole, especially in case of the doped matrix. When Ti is added to Nb filaments, it forms fine particles of intermetallic compounds with Sn in the nanocrystalline diffusion layer. When these particles are formed, grain boundaries of the diffusion Nb3Sn layer purify from segregations, and grains in the vicinity of these particles coarsen, which negatively affects the current-carrying capacity of a composite. That’s why an optimal amount of Ti in Nb should be chosen, when Ti mainly dissolves in the Nb3Sn phase increasing its superconducting properties and not deteriorating its grain structure.

Abstract: Lateral growth of intermediate phase during reactive diffusion was analyzed. Proposed model is based on the assumption that the main driving force of the lateral growth process is the chemical one (proportional to composition gradient along the interface). Asymmetric case of phase formation taking into account the curvature of all three interfaces at the triple joint is considered.

Abstract: Kinetics of formation of superconducting Nb3Sn layers and the structure of bronzeprocessed Nb/Cu-Sn composites with Zr, Zn or Mg-doped matrixes or Ti-doped Nb filaments of different geometry have been studied by the methods of TEM, SEM and electron-probe microanalysis. All the doping elements have been found to accelerate the rate of growth of the diffusion Nb3Sn layers and consequently their thickness. Correlation between the diffusion annealing schedules, the geometry of Nb filaments, the structure of the diffusion Nb3Sn layers and the current-carrying characteristics of multifilamentary Nb/Cu-Sn composites has been established.

Abstract: Iron aluminides exhibit good resistance to high-temperature oxidizing and sulphidizing environments and have potential for structural applications at high temperatures under corrosive environments. In this study, an Fe-Al intermetallic compound was prepared by multi-layered roll-bonding of elemental Fe and Al foils. The process consisted of the accumulative roll-bonding (ARB) for making a laminated Fe/Al sheet and the subsequent heat treatment promoting a solid-phase reaction in the laminated Fe/Al sheet. Accumulated foils were rolled and bonded at room temperature or 573 K. A pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) process was used for the subsequent heat treatment. The microstructures produced at each processing stage were characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Vickers microhardness testing was used for hardness determination. A homogeneous intermetallic compound of Fe3Al or FeAl could be obtained after the subsequent heat treatment for 1.8 ks at 873 K and for 3.6 ks at 1173 K.

Abstract: TiNi shape memory alloy thin sheets were produced from titanium and nickel metal sheets by a new processing consisting of repetitive roll-bonding and diffusional heat treatment. TiNi sheets after heat treatment at a relatively low temperature for a long time exhibited fairly isotropic and high shape-recoverable strain, because a near {111} B2-phase texture such as {223}<110> and {332}<113> was developed through reactive diffusion during heat treatment. In the early stage of reactive diffusion, intermetallic layers of Ti2Ni, TiNi and Ni3Ti were formed at once at the Ti/Ni interfaces of the roll-bonded laminate and then growth of a TiNi phase took place with the progress of interdiffusion. Texture of the final TiNi thin sheets, therefore, is derived from that of TiNi layers generated at the Ti/Ni interfaces, which is considered to have inherited rolling textures of Ni and Ti layers in the Ti/Ni laminate prior to reactive diffusion under orientation relationships on close-packed plane and direction between parent and product phases.

Abstract: The kinetics of the solid-state reactive diffusion between Au and Sn was experimentally observed using Sn/Au/Sn diffusion couples prepared by a diffusion bonding technique. The diffusion couples were isothermally annealed at a temperature of T = 453 K. Due to annealing, AuSn, AuSn2 and AuSn4 compound layers are formed at the interface in the diffusion couple. The experimental results were used to evaluate quantitatively the effect of Ni on the growth of the Au–Sn compounds. The evaluation indicates that the addition of Ni into Sn between 1 and 5 mass% accelerates the growth of the Au–Sn compounds at T = 433–473 K.

Abstract: A combustion front quenching (CFQ) technique was used to investigate the mechanism of selfpropagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of MoSi2 from Mo and Si powders. Based on the experimental results, a combination of reactive diffusion and dissolution-precipitation mechanism of the formation of MoSi2 was proposed, and a model corresponding to this mechanism was drawn.

Abstract: The reactive diffusion and phase formation sequences in two types of ‘internal tin’ superconducting wires designed for the ITER project, which investigates the production of electricity by means of nuclear fusion, have been studied during heat treatments both in situ, using electrical resistometry [1] and ex situ, using optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and X-ray Micro-Tomography (XMT). XMT reveals long pores in the longitudinal direction which may result in tin deficiency thereat and hence local off-stoichiometric Nb3Sn. Microscopy suggests there are incomplete conversion of elemental tin to copper-tin intermetallics before ramping above the tin melting temperature, nonuniform distribution of tin before formation of Nb3Sn, and filament movement and bridging, stacking cracks and unreacted niobium at the end of the heat treatment. FEGSEM shows a fine microstructure which nevertheless could still be improved.

Abstract: As the result of oxidation of Cr-Mn steels in SO2 the three layer scale is formed. The intermediate layer of this scale is composed mainly of MnCr2O4 spinel whereas FeCr2O4 spinel is present in small amount. MnO dominates in the outer layer. The inner, very thin scale layer contains oxides/sulfides mixture. The aim of this study was to examine self-diffusion processes in both spinels by multitracer method of diffusion measurements to know which of the transport processes during oxidation is the smallest one and deciding on the corrosion rate. In diffusion experiments the radioisotopes 54Mn, 51Cr and 59Fe were used. The serial sectioning method was applied to simultaneous evaluation of diffusion rates of chromium, manganese and iron in both spinels at 1073 K and 1173 K under the pressure of 105 Pa in SO2 containing 10 Pa O2. These spinels were obtained by modified sol-gel method from nitrates. Structures of the spinels were examined by X-ray spectrometry. It was found, that the diffusion rates of metals are higher in MnCr2O4 spinel. Moreover the dominant mechanism of manganese transport (the highest one) in studied samples is the volume diffusion while chromium and iron are transported mainly through the high diffusivity paths.

Abstract: The temperature dependence of the kinetics of the reactive diffusion was numerically analyzed for a hypothetical binary system composed of one compound phase (β) and two primary solid solution phases (α and γ). The growth rate of the β phase during the reactive diffusion between α and γ phases in a semi-infinite diffusion couple was expressed as a function of the interdiffusion coefficient Dθ and the solubility range of the θ phase ( θ = α, β, γ). For the reactive diffusion controlled by volume diffusion, the thickness l of the β phase is described as a function of the annealing time t by the parabolic relationship l2 = Kt. The equations K = K0 exp(−QK/RT) and Dθ = D0 θexp(−Qθ/RT) were adopted to express K and Dθ as functions of temperature T, respectively. The relationship between the temperature dependence of K and that of Dθ was evaluated according to the following assumptions: the molar volume, the solubility range and the value of D0 θ are constant and equivalent for all the phases. When Qα or Qγ is smaller than Qβ, QK is greater than Qβ. On the other hand, QK is close to Qβ, if both Qα and Qγ are greater than Qβ. In such a case, the temperature dependence of the kinetics represents that of interdiffusion in the growing compound.