Materials Science Forum Vols. 636-637

Abstract: Macrosegregation and microporosity formation numerical models are dependent on microstructural parameters, such as primary and secondary arm spacings to provide the permeability coefficient in the mushy zone. As can be observed in the literature, growth models for ternary alloys for unsteady solidification are rarely found. In this paper, the primary (λ1) dendrite arm spacing was measured along the length of an Al-Cu-Si alloy casting and correlated with transient solidification thermal variables. A combined theoretical and experimental approach has been carried out to quantitatively determine such thermal variables, i.e., transient metal/mold heat transfer coefficient, liquidus isotherm velocity and cooling rate ahead the liquidus front.

Abstract: In this work, Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) are used in a study of point defect formation in intermetallic phases of the B2 structure of the Fe-Al system as a function of Al concentration. The results are compared with the concentrations of point defect determined from positron annihilation data. In the Mössbauer effect, two types of samples are investigated: Fe-Al alloys with few additives obtained by induction melting and Al-rich metallic powders produced by the self-decomposition method and intensive grinding of high energy in the electro-magneto-mechanical mill. The work presents the values of the 57Fe isomer shift and quadruple splitting for the components describing the point defect in the local environment of a Mössbauer nuclide. The concentration of the Fe vacancies and Fe atoms substituting Al (Fe-AS) are determined. The results show that an increase in Al content causes an increase in vacancy and Fe-AS concentration.

Abstract: Ti-6Al-4V is currently used in aeronautic and aerospace industry mainly for applications that require resistance at high temperature such as, blades for aircraft turbines and steam turbine blades. The titanium affinity by oxygen is one of main factors that limit the application of their alloys as structural materials at high temperatures. Notable advances have been observed in the development of titanium alloys with the objective of improving the creep properties. Increased oxygen levels are associated with increased microhardness and decreased ductility in titanium. In spite of this, Ti-6Al-4V containing an (+) structure continues to be the workhorse of the titanium industry due to their high specific strength, corrosion resistance, excellent high temperature properties and metallurgical stability. The objective of this work was to study the influence of equiaxed and Widmanstätten microstructures on oxidation rates and creep behavior of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The samples were exposed to different conditions of time and temperature to evaluate the oxidation rates. This influence on the oxidation rates was evaluated in terms of weight gain, -case depth and microhardness profile at 500 and 600 °C. Preliminary results indicated that the equiaxed microstructure with average grain size of 10 m exhibits faster oxygen diffusion. Short-term creep tests were performed under constant load in a stress range from 291 to 472 MPa at 500 °C and in a stress range from 97 to 291 MPa at 600 °C. The stress exponents obtained lie in the range from 4.0 to 11.3. The apparent activation energies for steady-state creep determined in the present work were estimated to be 316 and 415 kJ/mol at 291 MPa for the equiaxed and Widmanstätten microstructures, respectively. On the basis, the creep of Ti-6Al-4V is consistent with the lattice diffusion-controlled dislocation climb process in -Ti, for both microstructures. The creep rates of Widmanstätten microstructure were two orders of magnitude lower than of equiaxed microstructure in both temperatures. Apparently, the higher creep resistance with a Widmanstätten microstructure can be attributed to / interfaces acting as obstacles to dislocation motion and to the average grain size of 395 m, which reduces the grain boundary sliding, dislocations sources and the rate of oxygen diffusion along grain boundaries.

Abstract: The mechanics of a filled carbon nanotube has been evaluated inside a transmission electron microscope employing different procedures. It is found that using a force sensor mounted on a dedicated sample holder is the most reliable method of those explored. In addition to mechanical response visualisation, properties such as elastic modulus may be directly extracted using this commercially available holder.

Abstract: Ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic nanocrystallites, stabilized in carbon matrix, were prepared by the procedure comprising formation of the appropriate metal acrylamide complex, followed by frontal polymerization and pyrolysis of the polymer. The pyrolysis products were in a form of beads, which contained in their volume randomly distributed nanocrystallites. The nanocrystallites had various composition, magnetic properties and sizes ranging from few to tens of nanometers, depending on the element type. Application of this procedure stabilizes the nanostructure and enables processing of nanoparticles within a narrow window of sizes. The magnetic parameters depend on the crystallite size, determined by their chemical composition. The nanocrystallites pyrolysed at 773 K exhibited ferromagnetic properties for Co and Fe, and superparamagnetic behaviour for the Ni. The nanocrystallites can potentially be applied as sensors for tagging the biological substances or for targeted drug delivery.

Abstract: The surface of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) was modified by non-covalent approach. Various types of surfactants, an anionic surfactant - dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, an cationic surfactant - cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and their combination with different molar ratios were used for modification. Different power of ultrasound, 64 or 400 W was used to evaluate its influence on the properties of prepared composites. The electrical conductivities of unmodified CNT, particles treated by ultrasound, and CNT modified with surfactants were measured. The surface properties of modified particles were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to confirm the presence and to evaluate the quantity of surfactants in the modified CNT.

Abstract: Due to their interesting properties copper-based materials have been considered appropriate heat-sinks for first wall panels in nuclear fusion devices. The concept of property tailoring involved in the design of metal matrix composites has led to several attempts to use nanodiamond (nDiamond) as reinforcement. In particular, nDiamond produced by detonation has been used to reinforce copper. In the present study, powder mixtures of copper and nDiamond with 20 at. % C were mechanically alloyed (MA) and consolidated via hot extrusion or spark plasma sintering (SPS). The hardness evolutions as well as the structural characterization of as-milled nanocomposite powders and consolidated samples are reported. Density measurements indicate that the consolidation outcome varies significantly with the process used. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) inspection of the extrusion consolidated sample revealed bonding at the interface between copper and nDiamond particles. The nDiamond size distribution was determined from TEM observations. The results obtained are discussed in terms of consolidation routes.

Abstract: Composites of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) with different TiO2 nanoparticle loads (0.5 vol.%, 2 vol.% and 4 vol.%) were compounded by optimized twin screw extrusion. The crystallization behaviour of these semicrystalline nanocomposites was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and polarized optical light microscope (POM) combined with a hot stage module to pursue in-situ the structure development. Wet chemical etching was applied to highlight morphological details like spherulites and lamellar structures for SEM observations. An obvious influence of TiO2-nanoparticles on the crystallization could be verified.

Abstract: The nanosized yttrium aluminium garnet powders doped with rare earth oxides are prepared by combustion synthesis using several organic fuel. Dense materials are manufactured by conventional sintering and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The combustion synthesis provides preparation of pure crystalline YAG nanopowders at ratio Y/Al = 3/5 after additional calcination at 1000 oC. The relative density of the SPS sintered samples at 1500 oC for 2 min is in the range of 95.4–98.5% depending on dispersity of powders.

Abstract: In this contribution we present high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Raman studies on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes using platinum supported on MgO in alcohol - chemical vapour deposition (A-CVD). For comparison copper and iron catalysts mixed with the same metal loading in MgO and the same process parameters in A-CVD have been tested. Our findings show that the choice of catalyst utilized under the same experimental conditions strongly influences the final morphology of the carbon nanostructures. Application of Pt/MgO in CVD results in doublewalled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Cu/MgO mixtures lead to the synthesis of copper filled multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Cu-MWCNT) and iron capsules surrounded by multiwalled carbon shells (Fe-MWCS), respectively. Our findings indicate that the three discussed metals interact differently with the substrate leading to the formation of different sized catalyst particles. The analysis of the particles size in the catalyst precursors and in the final products is also described in this contribution.