Materials Science Forum Vols. 638-642

Abstract: In order to increase critical stress for slip in Ti-Nb base shape memory alloys, strengthening by carbon additions (0.2 and 0.5mass%C) to Ti-27mol%Nb was investigated. It was found that all the alloys were  (bcc) phase at room temperature, and TiC existed in C-added alloys. The grain size was decreased with carbon content due to grain boundary pinning. Texture measurement revealed that strong {112}<110> recrystallization texture was formed in C-free alloy and that weak {001}<110> texture in C-added alloys. Tensile tests revealed that clear superelasticity appeared in C-free alloy but that stress-induced martensitic transformation seems to be suppressed by TiC in C-added alloys. The critical stress for slip was linearly increased by carbon content. Then, carbon addition affects the shape memory properties of TiNb alloys, and is effective to enhance the critical stress for slip.

Abstract: We present results on microwave, millimeter-wave, and millimeter-wave-driven plasma-assisted processing of materials. The research is primarily based on two systems- a 2.45 GHz, 6 kW S-band system and an 83 GHz, 15 kW gyrotron-based quasi-optical system. The S-Band system is used to synthesize nanophase metals, metal mixtures, and metal oxides by our patented continuous microwave polyol process, which has potential for large scale and low cost production. This system is also being investigated to develop techniques for titanium melting and sintering. The 83-GHz system is used for rapid sintering of ceramic powder compacts to produce polycrystalline materials with limited grain growth. An important application is to the development of polycrystalline laser host materials for high power solid-state lasers, where the requirement is for transparency with high optical quality and good lasing efficiency. We are currently investigating solid-state reactive sintering of Nd-doped YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) from commercial oxide powders. This has thus far yielded translucent samples with good fluorescence lifetime of the lasing state. Techniques for further reducing light scattering by residual pores are being investigated. Finally, the millimeter-wave system is being used in the development of millimeter-wave plasma-assisted diamond deposition, as the quasi-optical system has significant advantages over conventional microwave plasma-assisted diamond deposition systems. The results and implications of this wide range of materials processing experiments are presented and discussed.

Abstract: Friction powder processing (FPP) has been developed based on the principle of friction stir welding (FSW) or friction stir processing (FSP). The FPP is a method to design the properties of the processed area by performing FSP after powder with a controlled composition is placed in the gap between two plates. The FPP experiments were performed using a tool with the shoulder diameter of 15mm and the probe diameter of 6mm. The tool traveled at 100mm/min and rotated at 1500rpm. A1050 aluminum was used as the plate. Pure Al powder (89μm average grain diameter) and pure Cu powder (106μm average grain diameter) were used as the additives. When using pure Al powder, the pure Al powder left in the base metal after the first pass is sufficiently stirred by performing the second pass and then a good joint without defects is obtained. However, more than three passes are not effective for improving the strength of the welded area. When using pure Cu powder, nanoscale Al2Cu precipitates are uniformly formed in the stir zone, and accordingly, the hardness is significantly increased.

Abstract: Stress amplitude dependence of internal friction (tanδ) of a Ti-base shape memory alloy, Ti-24mol%Nb-3mol%Al, with a well developed texture is investigated by a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) in a tensile mode. In the martensite (C-orthorhombic) phase, tan was 0.01~0.05 and was much higher than that of the parent phase in all the test conditions. This means that the martensite/martensite interfaces move under the external sinusoidal stress. In addition to this high background, tanδ-peak appeared at around 153K. The tanδ-peak height clearly depended also on the stress amplitude (10~50MPa). In addition, a threshold stress for the appearance of the tanδ-peak existed in the DMA test and it was in good agreement with the yield stress (0.2% proof stress) in a tensile test at 153K. These results mean that a long-range motion of twin-boundaries is necessary for the appearance of the tanδ-peak.

Abstract: We have deposited the Ti-Ni-X films having various compositions while keeping the Ti content to be ~50at% by means of triple-source dc magnetron sputtering. All of the annealed films showed thermoelastic martensitic transformation. Ms temperature of the Ti-Ni-Pd films increased with increasing Pd content, and the highest Ms temperature of ~180°C was attained for the Ti-23%Ni-27%Pd film. On the other hand, Ms temperature of Ti-Ni-Cu films slightly increases as Cu content increases. The transformation hysteresis is decreased rapidly down to 15~20°C by adding Pd or Cu more than 10at%. Both ternary alloy films showed shape memory behavior during thermal cycling tests under various constant stresses. The critical stress against plastic deformation, c, of the Ti-Ni-Cu films is higher than that of the Ti-Ni-Pd films. The recoverable strain of these ternary alloy films is found to be ~2%. Actuation response by Joule's heat induced shape memory effect of Ti-Ni shape memory alloy films was slightly improved by the addition of Pd or Cu into the alloy.

Abstract: New methods to fabricate a metallic closed cellular material for smart materials using an isostatic pressing and penetrating method are introduced. Powder particles of polymer or ceramics coated with a metal layer using electro-less plating were pressed into pellets and sintered at high temperature. These powder particles were sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. Closed cellular materials including polymer were fabricated by penetrating polymer into metallic foams. Many kinds of metallic closed cellular materials including different materials from that of cell walls were tried to fabricate. The physical and mechanical properties of these materials were measured. The results of the compressive tests show that this material has high-energy absorption and the result of measuring the internal friction show that the internal friction of these materials is larger than that of pure aluminum.

Abstract: The use of microwave heating has now been applied to a wide variety of industrial fields. Especially, the use of microwave energy for the firing process of the advanced ceramics has been reportedly found to offer significant advantages compared to the conventional thermal heating. Generally, in the volume production, we use the suscepor, which is the pyrogenetic substance to be heated the specimens externally and to play a very important role in firing ceramics. Recently, we found out that the powdered metal silicon compact is one of the good candidates as susceptor materials. However, its microwave heating mechanism has not been made clear, yet. Then, in this report, we carried out the fundamental studies about the heating behaviors of the powdered metal silicon compact mixed with aluminum oxide powder under the microwave irradiation at a frequency of 2.45GHz in a symmetrical single mode cavity TE01 and the analysis of products after heating by the X-ray diffraction method. From experimental results, it was found out that the attained temperature of the compact specimen under microwave irradiation was higher with increase of voltage along the voltage distribution in the single mode cavity. And it was also found out that the temperature was different with how to set up the compact specimen in the single mode cavity.

Abstract: The silver NanoPaste® having silver nanoparticles with 5 nm in average diameter, coated either on a polyimide substrate or a copper one, is successfully sintered with CW lasers. A rapid metallization from the paste surface with the visible laser makes the evaporation of solvent and dispersant difficult, resulting in an insufficient sintering with large pores. In contrast, the near-infrared laser with a little absorption in the paste heats the substrate first, and then develops metallization up to the paste surface, so that an easy evaporation makes the structure denser. No peeling was observed at the interface of the laser-sintered Ag film and the substrates. Its adhesive strength is nearly equal to that of the furnace-sintered sample.

Abstract: Capabilities of synthesizing new structural and functional materials by SPS processing were indicated by exemplifying the synthesis of nano-structured alumina with high bending strength or high transparency, Al/diamond composites with high thermal conductivity and zirconia(3Y)/ SUS410L FGM. In the synthesis of alumina, the bending strength of more than 720MPa was attained by choosing suitable SPS conditions. It was also indicated that SPS processing could easily synthesize Al/diamond composites with high thermal conductivity of more than 400W/(m･K), suggesting elaborate control of interface between Al and diamond in SPS consolidation. Further, zirconia(3Y)/SUS410L FGM could easily be fabricated by SPS. Mechanical weakness in the zirconia(3Y)-rich layers of the FGM was shown from the analysis of stress state based on Raman scattering method. It is suggested that the designing of the layer staking in FGM based on the Raman scattering analysis is effective for the improvement of the weakness in the FGM.

Abstract: For the production of endless glass fibres, the use of glass fibre bushings made of PtRh alloys is necessary. The manufacturing process for high melting glass fibres in particular leads to simultaneous chemical attack and mechanical loading at extremely high temperatures.The influence of these complex loadings on the stress-rupture strength and the creep behaviour of various PtRh alloys (conventional and oxide dispersion strengthened alloys) was investigated after contact with various glass melts. The investigations include both long-term tests under service conditions and laboratory corrosion tests. The investigations will be complemented with metallographic and fracture examinations in the SEM and microprobe analysis.Furthermore, the fibre manufacturing process is influenced by the wetting of the bushing material by the glass melt. For this reason the wetting behaviour of the platinum materials in contact with the different glass melts was investigated as a function of the working temperature of the glass fibre bushings. The results of the investigations provide a basis to optimise materials selection for glass fibre bushings.