Defect and Diffusion Forum Vol. 397

Abstract: In this work Zinc oxide thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique. A set of ZnO thin films were deposited with various deposition times, on glass substrate at 350 °C. The precursor solution is formed with zinc acetate in distilled methanol with 0.1 molarity. The deposition time was ranged from 2 to 8 min. The structural and optical properties of those films were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ultraviolet-visible spectrometer (UV). X-ray diffraction patterns of the ZnO thin films showed polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure and the preferred orientation was along (002) plane when the grain size varied between 9.66 and 16.67nm. ZnO thin films were highly transparent in the visible with the maximum transmittance of 85% and the optical band gap was found between 3.25 and 3.28 eV.

Abstract: Zinc oxide Nanorods (ZnO-NRs) were deposited onto glass substrates using zinc chloride by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) method. The films were prepared in different deposition time at optimum deposition parameters. The effect of deposition time on the structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO-NRs was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrometry (UV-Vis). XRD and SEM measurements indicated that all films show a hexagonal wurtzite Nano rods (NRs) structure growing preferentially along c-axis perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. Optical transmission spectra showed high transmittance of 80-85% in the visible range for all thin films, and increase of optical band gap from 3.24 to 3.265 eV with deposition time. The high quality c-axis orientated ZnO thin films with minimum strain and tuneable optical properties could be used as a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) for optoelectronic applications.

Abstract: The precipitation of two 6xxx (Al-Mg-Si) alloys with and without copper (Cu) and excess silicon (Si) has been investigated by using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and X ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The analysis of the DSC curves found that the excess Si accelerate the precipitation. The values of activation energies for each peak of DSC curves were determined by using Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Boswell isoconversional methods. The alloy which has an excess Si and copper require larger activation energy for precipitation despite the acceleration of the precipitation by the excess Si. TEM observation result shows there is smaller size and higher density of precipitate in excess Si alloy than those of excess-free.

Abstract: In this work, we studied the effect of pre-heating temperature on the structural and optical properties of ZnO nanorods grown by free template sol-gel dip-coating technique. The prepared films were pre-heated at different temperatures: 240, 260, 280 and 300 °C, then annealed at 500 °C for one hour. The structural properties of the prepared samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the surface morphologies were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The optical properties were studied by means of UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The XRD diffraction spectra show that all the prepared samples have a ZnO wurtzite structure with a preferential orientation along (002) axis. SEM micrographs revealed the formation of well-aligned ZnO nanorods for the sample preheated at 280 °C. The prepared ZnO nanorod structured thin films are highly transparent in the visible region with an average transmittance above 85 % in the 400–800 nm wavelength range.

Abstract: From the hard and anti-corrosions coatings, we found the chromium carbides, these components were discovered by large studies; like thin films since years ago. They were pointed a good quality for the protection of steel, because of their thermal and mechanical properties for this reason, it was used in many fields for protection. Plus: their hardness and their important function in mechanical coatings. The aim of this work joins a study of the effect of the thermal treatment on mechanical and structural properties of the Cr/steel system. Thin films were deposited by cathodic magnetron sputtering on the steel substrates of 100C6, contain 1% wt of carbon. Samples were annealing in vacuum temperature interval between 700 to 1000 °C since 45 min, it forms the chromium carbides. Then pieces are characterising by X-ray diffraction, X-ray microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties are analysing by Vickers test. The X-ray diffraction analyse point the formation of the Cr₇C₃, Cr₂₃C₆ carbides at 900°C; they transformed to ternary carbides in a highest temperature, but the Cr₃C₂ doesn’t appear. The X-ray microanalysis shows the diffusion mechanism between the chromium film and the steel sample; from the variation of: Cr, Fe, C, O elements concentration with the change of annealing temperature. The variation of annealing temperature shows a clean improvement in mechanical and structural properties, like the adhesion and the micro-hardness.

Abstract: The lead sulfur (PbS) as thin films were deposited on ordinary glass slides, for different deposition times ranging from 30 to 90 min, and for different molar concentrations of lead nitrate (0.01, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1) mol / l, at ambient temperature of 55 ° C, using thiourea and lead nitrate as source of S2- and Pb2+ ions respectively and TEA as complexing agent. For different deposition times, the films grow preferentially along (200) direction. With increase in deposition time, and at fixed molar concentration the transmittance remained less than 30% and the optical band gap value decreases from 1.8 to 1.6 eV, while the crystallite size increases from 21.9 to 27.8 nm. For various molar concentrations of lead nitrate and with time deposition equal to 60 min, it was observed that the films grow preferentially along (111) or (200) directions, which depend on the molar concentration. Increasing the concentration of lead nitrate leads to decrease the energy gap from 1.58 to 1.37 eV and increase the crystallite sizes from 28.0 to 32.6 nm.

Abstract: A physical model studying the diffusion of interstitial atoms has been used in the study of hydrogen redistribution, in order to predict the risk of hydrogen damage in a range of manufacturing processes. In this work, conditions representative of hydrogen storage and some scenarios in the nuclear or chemical industries are considered. A singular advantage of this model is that, contrary to some simplified commercial and academic models, it contemplates diffusion in its most comprehensive description, i.e., with the driving force for atom diffusion being the gradient in chemical activation instead of simply considering it occurs down a composition gradient. Because the model also incorporates thermal history, microstructure, matrix solubility, multiple trapping distributions, interaction with the atmosphere and others, it is ideally suited to study real industrial applications. In this work, several simulations of hydrogen permeation are considered. Hydrogen permeation in industrial applications may introduce damage within the metal structure, leading to delayed failure. In the cases studied hydrogen is transported through a metal wall separating one volume with high hydrogen pressure and/or high temperature from another volume with low hydrogen pressure and temperature. By using such comprehensive physical model, it is possible to study the effects of hydrogen pressure and temperature gradient, wall thickness, metal microstructure and trap distribution on the flux across the wall and on the accumulation of hydrogen within the metal. Furthermore, it makes possible to estimate the embrittlement risk and when necessary the time to fracture. Keywords: hydrogen, steel, permeation, physical model, hydrogen storage, nuclear industry

Abstract: The paper assesses and compares the friction and wear behavior of SAE-AISI 1055 steel and brass (CuZn39Pb2) under dry sliding condition. The tribological behavior was investigated and compared by conducting two different experiments, the first experiment conducted on a CSM tribometer, and the second experiment was carried out on a test bench in horizontal lathe machine where device holder pin is fabricated and mounted on a test bench and a rotating disc, varying the normal load exert on the disc by the pin and the rotation speed of the disc. These tests consisted of measuring friction coefficient and wear loss of samples. Experiments are carried out in normal load 5-10 N, sliding speed 0.24-0.35 and 0.48 m/s. Variations of coefficient of friction during sliding at different initial surface roughness, normal load and sliding speed are investigated. Results show that the two alloys had different friction and wear behavior, for steel friction coefficient increase slowly with the increase of normal load and sliding speed. For brass friction coefficient decreases with the increase of normal load and sliding speed. On the other hand, it is also found that wear loss increase with sliding distance. Microscopic of worn surfaces for each alloy were carried out and compared.

Abstract: The hydrophilic-hydrophobic surface area of alumina powder (Al₂O₃) oxidized at different temperatures was determined on the base of adsorption of water and butane vapor at 25°C. In the order to study the influence of thermal oxidation upon hydrophilic/hydrophobic character of the surface, samples of Al₂O₃ were characterized using granulometry, SEM and BET surface area measurement. SEM results showed that the thermal treatment does not affect the morphology of the Alunima. However, the increase of treatment temperature from 250 to 900°C results in changing of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of Al₂O₃ surface.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of thermo-cyclic treatments on the mechanical characteristics (Hardness and Resilience) of low-alloy 42CD4 steel. Thermocyclic treatment on 42CD4 steel was operated for four cycles at 850 °C for 30 min. After each cycle, the steel sample was cooled in different medium (open air and water) in order to check the effect of the cooling rate on the microstructure characteristics. It was found that the cooling rate can affect the mechanical characteristics of the steel. The hardness values of steel cooled in water were higher than those of steel cooled in air. Additionally, there was an increase in the resilience of steel sample with the increase of thermocyclic number.