Defect and Diffusion Forum Vols. 283-286

Abstract: Grape pomace is the main by-product from the wine industry. It is principally made up of grape skin and seeds. Drying this by-product is the first step for the later extraction of components with high added value like oil or antioxidants. Due to the different characteristics of the components, the study of the drying kinetics of grape pomace must be addressed taking its components into account one by one. For that purpose, grape seeds from the Spanish wine industry were dehydrated in a convective laboratory dryer at 70 °C and at 1, 2 and 3 m/s until a weight loss of 40% was reached. Drying kinetics was determined in triplicate. Modelling was carried out by means of a diffusion model without considering shrinkage and external resistance. Grape seeds were assumed to be spherical. For all the fits, the explained variance was higher than 96.9 % and the mean relative modulus was lower than 1.7 %. Between 1 and 2 m/s, effective diffusivity increased in line with air velocity, although the values of effective diffusivity calculated for 2 and 3 m/s were similar. It seems to indicate that for the experimental conditions under study, the external resistance is not negligible at 1 and 2 m/s and for higher air velocities the internal resistance to mass transfer controls the drying process. These results coincide with those found by other authors when studying different food products.

Abstract: The influence of inserting ceramic foam in a pipe with a 1:4 sudden expansion was numerical investigated. The foam, with a thickness to diameter ratio of 0.60, was positioned at different distances from the sudden pipe expansion wall. Three different porosities were analyzed (10, 20 and 60 pores per inch) for pore Reynolds numbers in the range of 20-400, corresponding to pipe Reynolds numbers of 2400 to 22000 in the pipe section upstream the sudden expansion. Predictions of the sudden pipe expansion cavity assuming laminar flow within the foam yield the penetration of the separated flow region into the foam. Considering turbulent flow in the porous foam and the model of Pedras and Lemos [14] prevents this penetration. The numerical and physical models used could not reproduce completely the foam influence on the separated turbulent flow region between the sudden pipe expansion and the foam inlet.

Abstract: Anodic polarisation curves of Mm(Ni3.6Co0.7Mn0.4Al0.3)x (Mm = mischmetal, 0.85  x  1.15) electrodes were measured under the conditions of various initial concentrations of absorbed hydrogen (H/M), potential sweeping rates (v), temperatures (T), and amounts of reducing agent (y = [NaBH4]) in alkaline solution. Anodic peak current (Ip) at the Mm(B5)x electrodes increased with an increase in T, x and y values. In addition, the Ip value depended linearly on initial hydrogen concentration and square root of potential sweeping rate, irrespective of T, x and y values. Furthermore, the activation energy for hydrogen diffusion decreased with an increase in x and y values. From these results, it is considered that the surface reduction treatment of the Mm(B5)x alloys, performed in alkaline solution with sodium borohydride, the nonstoichiometry and the initial concentration of absorbed hydrogen, are important factors for improving the charge-discharge performance of negative electrodes for metal-hydrogen energy systems.

Abstract: Submicrocrystalline structure of W obtained by severe plastic deformation (SPD) by high pressure torsion (5 revolutions of anvils at 4000C) and its thermal stability have been examined by TEM. Grain boundaries of submicrocrystalline W have been studied by the method of the emission Mössbauer spectroscopy in the initial state and after annealing at 400-6000С.

Abstract: Mg-Ni alloys are perspective hydrogen-storage materials. In the present work, kinetics of hydrogen desorption was studied in Mg2NiH4 hydride and in hydrogenated eutectic (Mg/Mg2Ni)Hx. Time dependence of desorbed hydrogen was measured in temperature interval 552 –723 K and hydrogen diffusion coefficients were evaluated from obtained desorption curves. Results were interpreted in relation to phase composition investigated parallel by XRD. It was found that microtwinned low-temperature phase LT2 slows-down considerably the hydrogen desorption rate.

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: Thermally induced diffusion through the Si-on-Mo interface of multilayers with either amorphous or polycrystalline Mo layers has been investigated using grazing incidence and wide angle x-ray reflectometry. Diffusion through the Mo-on-Si interface was reduced by applying a diffusion barrier, allowing us to probe the diffusion at the opposite, Si-on-Mo interface.We found that diffusion through this interface is much slower for polycrystalline Mo than for amorphous Mo layers. The reason for this difference might be the larger defect concentration in amorphous Mo as compared to crystalline Mo.

Abstract: Titanium films were prepared on sapphire substrates in an UHV chamber, by means of ion beam sputter deposition under Ar-atmosphere at the pressure of 1.5ּ10-4 mbar, with a deposition rate of 2,1 nm/min. The crystal structure was investigated by means of X-Ray diffraction using a Phillips X-Pert diffractometer with a Co-Kα radiation. For electrochemical hydrogen loading, the films were covered by a 30 nm thick layer of Pd in order to prevent oxidation and facilitate hydrogen absorption. The samples were step-by-step loaded with hydrogen by electrochemical charging, which was carried out in a mixed electrolyte of phosphoric acid and glycerine (1:2 in volume). An Ag/AgCl (sat.) and Pt wires were used as the reference and the counter electrode, respectively. XRD measurements were performed before and after hydrogenation in order to investigate the effect of hydrogen loading on the microstructure. The main characteristics of hydrogen's absorption behaviour, as well as the thermodynamics and phase boundaries of titanium-hydrogen thin films are discussed in detail with specific emphasis on the comparison to titanium-hydrogen bulk system.

Abstract: 51Cr and 60Co diffusion along grain boundary (GB) in polycrystalline Zr and -Zr-20%Nb were measured by means of the radiotracer technique in an overall temperature range [380-1000] K. The use of Harrison´s C and B kinetics resulted in direct data of the GB diffusivity (Dgb) and the apparent GB diffusivity (Pgb). The analyzed temperatures involved those of power reactors service. The GB segregation factors s were determined or evaluated in the limit of very dilute solute concentration.

Abstract: This study evaluates the fracture toughness of Fe2B boride layers formed by the paste boriding thermochemical process on an AISI 1018 steel surface. The samples were placed in acrylic molds for the impregnation of boron carbide paste with thickness of 4mm over the sample surfaces to produce the diffusion into the steel. The aforementioned treatment considered one temperature, T= 1273 K, and three exposure times t=5, 6 and 8 h. Later, the borided samples were prepared metallographically to determine the mean values of the layer thicknesses and to produce Vickers microindentations at 45 m from the surface, applying four loads (1.9, 2.9, 4.9 and 9.8 N). The microcracks generated at the corners of the Vickers microindentation were considered as experimental parameters, which are introduced into two Palmqvist cracks models to determine their corresponding fracture toughness KC. As a result, the experimental parameters, such as exposure time and applied load are compared with the resulting fracture toughness of the borided phase.