Defect and Diffusion Forum Vols. 258-260

Abstract: Phase diagrams of mixed crystal systems exhibiting the cooperative Jahn–Teller effect are investigated. The competition of Jahn–Teller interaction with a) the preference energy of cation distribution over nonequivalent sublattices or b) stabilization energy of 3d-ion valence configuration is considered. The developed model enables to explain the nature of equilibrium and metastable states, the variety of phase diagrams and its special features in crystals with the competing interactions.

Abstract: Metals and alloys containing solute atoms dissolved interstitially often show anelastic behavior due to a process know as stress-induced ordering. The application of mechanical spectroscopy measurements to diffusion studies in body-centered cubic metals has been extensively used in the last decades. However the kind of preferential occupation of interstitial solutes in bodycentered cubic metals is still controversial. The anelastic properties of the Nb and Nb-1 wt% Zr polycrystalline alloys were determined by internal friction and oscillation frequency measurements using a torsion pendulum inverted performed between 300K and 650K, operating in a frequency oscillation in the hertz bandwidth. The interstitial diffusion coefficients of oxygen and nitrogen in Nb and Nb-1 wt% Zr samples were determined at two distinct conditions: (a) for low concentration of oxygen and (b) for high concentration of oxygen.

Abstract: Anelastic relaxation measurements have been used in order to obtain information about several aspects of the behavior of solutes in metals, for example, matrix-solute interaction, interstitial diffusion, etc. The diffusion coefficient for interstitial solutes in body centered-cubic metals is accurately determined by anelastic relaxation measurements. The kind of preferential occupation of the interstitial solutes in body centered-cubic metals, such as oxygen and nitrogen in tantalum, is still controversial. Internal friction and frequency measurements as a function of temperature in tantalum sample were performed using a torsion pendulum operating in a frequency oscillation in the hertz bandwidth. These results presented the following phenomenon: the intensity of the internal friction peak decreased between the first run and the other runs. These results were decomposed, by the successive subtraction method, in elementary Debye peaks, for determination of characteristic anelastic relaxation parameters (relaxation strength, peak temperature, activation energy and relaxation time). Interstitial diffusion coefficients for oxygen in tantalum were determined, for different intensities of internal friction peaks, and when compared with literature, these results introduced a better adjustment for the tetrahedral preferential occupation sites of oxygen in tantalum.

Abstract: The bronze process is a mature technology for the production of Nb3Sn superconducting wires exploiting reaction diffusion behaviour in the Cu-Nb-Sn system. However, the superconducting properties depend strongly on the applied heat treatment, and optimisation of the heat treatment is still largely by trial and improvement. Modelling of the reaction-diffusion behaviour would allow improved heat treatments to be designed; combination of this with a nondestructive in situ characterisation technique would also permit improved superconducting wires to be produced. A finite difference reaction diffusion model has been designed to permit rapid calculation of the bronze matrix composition and Nb3Sn layer thickness profiles across the wire cross-section as a function of time for any applied heat treatment. The model has also been designed to calculate the electrical resistivity of the wire, which has previously been demonstrated as a suitable in situ characterisation technique. This model has been applied to isothermal and more complex heat treatments and compared with experimental results. Good qualitative agreement has been found, and plans for further improvement of the model are described in detail.

Abstract: An oxide scale layer always forms at the strip surface during the hot rolling process. Its properties have a large impact on surface quality. The most important features of the oxide layer are its thickness, composition, structure, adherence and coherence. Temperature, time and gas atmosphere determine the growth of oxide layers. In this paper, the high temperature oxidation properties of ultra low carbon steels are discussed in terms of oxide growth mechanism, kinetics and phase morphology. The oxidation kinetics of ultra-low carbon steel (ULC) in air, its scale structure and composition were investigated over the temperature range 923-1473K. Oxidation experiments were performed either under controlled atmosphere or in air, to analyse the oxidation process during strip production. A first series of experiments was carried out in an electric furnace at temperatures ranging from 923 to 1473K, for times between 16 and 7200s. A second series was carried out in a device especially designed to control the atmosphere. After heating under pure nitrogen, the samples were oxidised in air at temperatures between 923-1323K for various oxidation times. Thus treated specimens were characterised by metallography and their scale thickness was measured under the optical microscope. Scale morphology was studied and scale composition confirmed by EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) and EBSD (Electron Backscattered Diffraction) analysis. Results show that scale growth under controlled atmosphere is significantly faster than under non controlled conditions, additionally the adherence of the scale formed in the laboratory device was significantly better than the other one. It is clear that scale thickness and constitution depend strongly on the oxidation potential of atmosphere. Computed parabolic activation energies (Ea) values are in good agreement with those found in the literature.

Abstract: Heat transfer fluids play an important role in many industrial sectors. However, the low heat transfer characteristics of conventional fluids obstruct the performance enhancement and the high compactness of heat exchangers. In order to improve thermal characteristics of the conventional fluids, nanofluids are prepared by adding multi walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with base fluids. Though different experimental studies on nanofluids are available, theoretical models are also needed to predict its thermal behaviour. This work intends to address dimensional analysis using the Buckingham Pi theorem to develop an empirical model for predicting thermal characteristics of nanofluids. The latter will be achieved through the use of operational variables and physical properties for the identification of detrimental factors which eventually lead to the thermal enhancement of nanofluids. It can be observed from this analysis that volume fraction and temperature of the nanofluids are the most influencing parameters on the nanofluids thermal conductivity. In what concerns heat transfer coefficient, it is the velocity of the nanofluid that plays a critical role apart from the afore mentioned two parameters. Therefore it is believed that by controlling these parameters, the thermal effectiveness of the nanofluids can be established.

Abstract: In this work, an approach of reactive nitrogen diffusion is presented and applied to the iron gas nitriding process. A kinetic model based on Fick's laws is used to simulate the layer growth kinetics of a biphase configuration composed of ε and γ’ iron nitrides grown on the pure iron substrate. This diffusional approach, under certain assumptions, reveals the influence of the nitriding potential on the layer growth kinetics during the gas nitriding of pure iron. Some simulation results are presented and discussed.

Abstract: A diffusion-controlled growth of intermetallic phases and the role of the Kirkendall effect in morphological evolution of the product phase layers can be described in terms of an alternative theory considering chemical reactions at the interphase interfaces. Application of this “physicochemical” treatment to diffusional growth of intermediate phases with fairly wide homogeneity ranges is illustrated by the example of interaction in the Ag-Zn system. The model is purely phenomenological, and its use is convenient, since no explicit assumption of the underlying diffusion mechanism is required.

Abstract: The present paper is about dynamic embrittlement as a generic damage mechanism. It involves grain-boundary diffusion of an embrittling species at elevated temperatures under the influence of mechanical stress. The embrittling species, either coming from the material itself or from the environment, reduces the grain-boundary cohesion and, hence, causes time-dependent intergranular fracture. Evidence of the technical significance of dynamic embrittlement is given by two examples, stress-relief cracking in steels and hold-time cracking during low-cycle-fatigue loading of nickel-base superalloys. There is an obvious relationship between the grain-boundary structure and the local susceptibility to dynamic embrittlement. This was proven by mechanical experiments on bicrystals and grain-boundary-engineering-type-processed specimens.