Papers by Keyword: Segregation

Abstract: Pre-alloyed powders, which are mainly used in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), have the disadvantage of being time-consuming and costly to manufacture. To overcome these disadvantages, in-situ alloying, which mixes pure element powders and performs alloying in real time during the LPBF process, has been attracting attention. In particular, it is quite challenging to manufacture high entropy alloy (HEA) containing high melting point refractory elements by in-situ alloying. In this study, we designed a single-phase BCC refractory HEA with a mix of Ti, Nb, Mo, Ta, and W through thermodynamic calculations and fabricated the designed composition by LPBF by mixing powders of each element and performing in-situ alloying. High energy density and remelting effectively suppressed segregation of constituent elements, which caused a decrease in residual stress and increased relative density. Our study represents a pioneering attempt to manufacture in-situ alloyed HEA by LPBF and demonstrates the effectiveness of in-situ alloying using mixed powders.

Abstract: Within the framework of the project GAČR 21-24070S Model of fibre segregation in dependence on rheological properties of fresh HPC, the rheological properties and fibre segregation in fresh concrete mix depending on temperature changes have been verified. The rheological properties and fibre segregation have been verified under three temperature conditions (very low temperatures around 5 °C, normal temperature conditions around 20 °C and high temperatures above 30 °C). Comparison of the properties of UHPC with fibres at different temperature conditions has been performed on fresh mixtures mainly by spill tests. Subsequently, hardened test bodies, i.e. 40/40/160 beams, were verified in tensile bending and compression in all cases. The actual fibre segregation within the individual samples has also been verified by microscopic analysis. Different temperature conditions have been simulated by heating or cooling the input raw materials. The results have been compared by degree of changes in rheological properties and mechanical parameters.

Abstract: This paper describes the segregation of fibres in high performance and high strength concretes. It focuses on both laboratory and practical conditions. It compares different mixtures produced and processed in the laboratory and in the precast concrete company. Two methods are chosen in the paper to avoid fibre segregation. The first method is a suitable mix design considering the water/cement ratio and the amount of superplasticizer. The second method is the addition of synthetic fibres to the mixture while maintaining sufficient workability. The paper examines the consistence of each mixture according to the concrete placement location, segregation of fibres in the fresh mixture and hardened composite. Both methods under laboratory and practical conditions have shown a positive impact on the reduction of segregation of steel fibres in the mixture. Simultaneously, the strength properties of all mixtures were compared, which depended mainly on the type of synthetic fibres used.

Abstract: Resource-efficient manufacturing is a foundation for sustainable and circular manufacturing. Semi-solid processing typically reduces material loss and improves productivity but generally requires a better understanding and control of the solidification of the cast material. Thermal analysis is commonly used in high-pressure die casting (HPDC) processes to determine casting process parameters, such as liquidus and solidus temperatures. However, this method is inadequate for semi-solid casting processes because the eutectic temperature is also a crucial parameter for successful semi-solid casting. This study explores the feasibility of using machine learning and artificial neural networks to predict fundamental values in Al-Si alloy casting. The Thermo-Calc 2022 software Scheil-Gulliver calculation function was used to generate the training and the test datasets, which included features such as melting temperature, alpha aluminium solidification temperature, eutectic temperature, and the solid fraction amounts at eutectic temperature. The results show that both models have a symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) of less than 2 % with temperature prediction, with the machine learning model achieving a better accuracy of less than 1 %. A case study comparing practical measurements with prediction results is also discussed, demonstrating the potential of AI methods for predicting semi-solid casting processes.

Abstract: Impurity incorporation during vapor-phase epitaxy on stepped surfaces was modeled by classifying rate-limiting processes into i) surface diffusion, ii) step kinetics, and iii) segregation. Examples were shown for i) desorption-limited Al incorporation during chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of (0001) SiC, ii) preferential desorption of C atoms from kinks during CVD of Al-doped (000-1) SiC, and iii) segregation-limited C incorporation during metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy of (0001), (000-1), and (10-10) GaN.

Abstract: The flow behavior of semi-solid slurry determines the quality of the castings produced by the semi-solid forming process. Many studies have done to investigate the flow behavior of slurry under different conditions, and results show that the rheological behavior of slurry with dendritic structure is inappropriate for semi-solid forming. In this study, slurries with varying morphologies of grain for the same alloy with the same fraction solid have tested using a partial filling method. The SEED process was employed, and the pouring temperature adjusted to prepare semi-solid slurries with different grain morphologies. The flow pattern, entrapped air during the filling process, and also microstructure of the samples were examined to characterize the macro and micro flow behavior. The results show that a turbulent macro-flow, leading to entrapped air, and severe segregation appeared in the sample using slurry of T_pour ≥ 660 °C . For the slurry of T_pour < 660 °C, none of the three phenomena found in the sample. This investigation further showed that the detriment of dendrite on the semi-solid forming process, and implied that large size dendrite in semi-solid slurry must avoided.

Abstract: Treatment of the slurry is important during RheoMetal^TM casting. In this work, semi-solid slurries were prepared under different stirring intensities, using two types of stirrers: a naked rod (for regular stirring) and a rod with two blades (for intensified stir). Tensile tests were performed, investigating fracture surfaces, as well as metallographic samples. The results show that intensified stir produces castings with finer primary particles and a more homogeneous microstructure. On the other hand, more faceted Fe-rich phases are found along the α-Al grains boundary as well, due to the dissolution of Fe from the stirrers. Moreover, for intensified stir castings, the porosity found on the fracture surfaces are smaller, while more brittle eutectic phases and second (intermetallic) phases, especially Fe-rich phases, are observed. Consequently, the castings with intensified stir show worse ductility. Finally, a quantitative analysis was made regarding ductility, affected both by porosity and the presence of Fe-rich phases.

Abstract: Ionic devices consisted of ion-conductive ceramics such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and oxygen separation membranes have been developed in the last decades. La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF), which is a mixed ionic-electronic conductive ceramics, is especially expected to play an important role in those ionic devices and so its electrochemical properties have been intensively studied.

Abstract: During low-temperature annealing, the segregation of the alloying element leads to a strong enrichment of the surface layer, causing a rearrangement of the surface electron structure. This change in the electron structure is manifested in the characteristic energy loss spectra. Annealing of single crystals at 400–500 K leads to an increase in the density of surface electron states. As shown by the calculations of the surface potential using experimental data on the temperature dependence of the surface concentration, dopant segregation causes a linear increase in the surface potential.

Abstract: The paper is devoted to some properties of grain boundaries: Segregation and concentration phase transitions – two important consequences of atomic interactions in grain boundaries. Except of a short description the Gibbs method of surface excesses and grain boundary segregation isotherms with the limited number of segregation sites in grain boundary, the paper concentrates on the effects of complexes formation, including thermodynamic and computer modeling, and concentration phase transition in the grain boundaries in systems with restricted solubility and intermediate compounds.