Materials Science Forum Vol. 672

Abstract: Ni3Fe powder has been obtained by high energy ball milling from elemental powders. We used two extreme conditions for milling: “friction mode” – friction between powder and ball/vial– and “shock mode” – direct impact of ball to powders. The influence of milling mode - friction and shock – was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that the Ni3Fe grain size obtained by “friction mode” after 30 hours of milling was around 10 nm. For “shock mode” milling the average grain sizes was around 17 nm after 20 hours. The grain size was calculated using Williamson-Hall formula for both, “shock mode” and “friction mode” of milled powders and Scherrer formula for annealed powders. The powders were subjected to an annealing (30 min. at 350 °C) in order to eliminate the internal stress accumulated to the milling process and to finish the Ni3Fe phase formation.

Abstract: The formation of quaternary 76Ni17Fe5Cu2Cr (wt. %) alloy by mechanical alloying is investigated. The elemental powders of Ni, Fe, Cu and Cr where milled in argon atmosphere in a planetary ball mill for time up to 20 h. Formation of the alloy was checked by X-ray diffraction studies. It is found that the rapid formation of the alloy lead to the rapid establishment of an equilibrium between the welding and fracture process during milling, leading to a constant particle size distribution over a big range of milling time. The morphology of the powders, studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms the rapid increase in size. The particle size distribution and the flowability of the powders are also analyzed as a function of milling time. Enhanced magnetization was found for the milled samples, compared to a cast alloy.

Abstract: Porous samples under the form of disc tablets, 23 mm in diameter and approximately 2 mm thick, were made by freely spreading and then sintering stainless steel powder (316 L). The powder fraction used and the sintering time are the parameters that were varied in order to study their influence on the main structural characteristics. Different powder size ranges were used. The multilayer structure was obtained by freely spreading different particles size ranges -40µm and 100 -125µm in alternative layers. The narrow range (-40µm) of particles was used to obtain a thin layer (0,5mm) intended for small pores size and to maintain the permeability of samples in acceptable limits. The sintered structure was investigated by electron microscopy and mercury porosimetry.

Abstract: The aim of the presented paper is to describe the sintered duplex stainless steels manufactured in sinter-hardening process and their structural and mechanical properties. Duplex stainless steels were obtained through powder metallurgy starting from austenitic 316L or ferritic 410L prealloyed base powders by controlled addition of alloying elements powder. Prepared mixes were compacted at 700MPa and sintered in a vacuum furnace with argon backfilling at temperature of 1240°C for 1h. After sintering different cooling cycles were applied: rapid cooling (6°C/s) using nitrogen under pressure and slow cooling (0.1°C/s) with furnace in argon atmosphere. Produced sintered duplex stainless steels were studied by scanning and optical microscopy and EDS chemical analysis of microstructure components as well as X-ray analysis. Mechanical properties were studied through tensile and three-point bending tests and Charpy impact test. It was demonstrated that austenitic-ferritic microstructures with regular arrangement of both phases and absence of precipitates can be obtained with properly designed powder mix composition as well as sintering cycle with rapid cooling rate. Produced sintered duplex steels show good mechanical properties which depend on austenite/ferrite ratio in the microstructure and elements partitioning (Cr/Ni) between phases. The optimal mechanical properties were obtained for compositions based on ferritic 410L powder where the balanced distribution of α and γ is present and the tensile strength can reach value about 500MPa with 16% of elongation and impact energy about 120J. The precipitations of hard intermetallic σ-FeCr phase take place when sintering with slow cooling cycle what cause substantial decrease of plastic properties, including reduce of elongation to 7% and in particular decrease of impact energy to 68 J.

Abstract: The Ir-Al powder in the 1:1 atomic ratio was obtained by high energy mechanical alloying in a Pulverisette 4 Fritch planetary mill. The final product was obtained after 28 h of milling in argon atmosphere. Alloy formation was investigated by X-ray diffraction. After 4 h of milling the new structure of IrAl compound is found in the diffraction patterns. The obtained powders are nanocrystalline with a mean crystallite size of 11 nm after 28 h of milling. The particle morphology and the chemical homogeneity were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDX). It was found that the obtained compound present large particles composed by smaller one.

Abstract: Nb additions to NiTi smart alloys are known to lead to the PTT-hysteresis broadening and transformation temperatures raising – required in numerous applications. As Nb has a high affinity for oxygen, NiTi-Nb alloys processing by powder metallurgy, via SHS, from elemental Ni-Ti-Nb powder mixtures, seems to be more advantageous and cost-effective than by classical one. However, its application encounters difficulties determined by the NiTi higher Gibbs Free Energy of Formation than of Ni3Ti and NiTi2, possible Ni-Nb compounds formation, Nb acting as diluent in SHS. This research proved the possibility to overcome these difficulties and of NiTi-Nb alloys obtaining by SHS using energetically activated powder mixture by controlled Mechanical Alloying. Also, it was proved the possibility to reduce Nb content from the common one of 9 at.% to 5 at.% without a significant effect of transformation temperatures and hysteresis decreasing.

Abstract: This article reports on an experimental study of the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of bronze-ABS composites containing 5, 10, 20, 30 vol.% of bronze powder. The mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength, elongation at fracture, modulus of elasticity, melt flow rate (MFR), hardness, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity of bronze powder filler embedded in a ABS matrix were experimentally investigated. Thermal and electrical conductivity measurements were performed up to a filler concentration of 30 vol.%. The tensile strength, elongation, MFR values continuously decreased with increasing the bronze powder content. However, modulus of elasticity and hardness increased with increasing the bronze content. Thermal and electrical conductivity of the composites was found to be higher for ABS-20 vol.% bronze composites than that of the other composites.

Abstract: FeTi has one of the highest hydrogen volume storage capacity and its hydride - very favourable absorption/desorption conditions and a high reversibility. However, for applications its low hydrogen mass storage capacity (HMSC) has to be improved. The authors of this paper supposed this would be possible by Al and Ni additions and by a nanocrystalline state. However, FeTi synthesis and alloying with Al and Ni is difficult in a Fe-Ti-Al-Ni system due to the undesired secondary compounds formation. The presented researches proved the possibility of this impediment overcoming and of NiTi-Al-Ni alloy obtaining in a nanocrystalline state, from a mixture of elemental powders of components, by mechano-synthesis carried out in a planetary ball mill, for 24 h, in Ar atmosphere. The obtained alloy proved to have a HMSC of ~3.5 % at 50 0C and 1.5 atm, higher than of FeTi, its dehydrogenation occurring at the same temperature and 1.0 atm.

Abstract: The nanocrystalline Ni3Fe powders were obtained via wet mechanical alloying route in argon atmosphere. As process control agent (PCA) the benzene (C6H6) was used. In order to release the internal stresses an annealing at 350 °C for 4 hours was performed. Alternatively, the nanocrystalline Ni3Fe powder was subjected to a process of incipient recrystallization at 600 °C for 30 minutes in vacuum. The recrystallised powders have a crystallite size of 30 nm. The magnetic properties (the frequencies dependence of permeability and magnetic losses) were investigated in AC field of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 T. It was found that the polymerization process has a strong influence over the magnetic properties of compacts. If the polymerization was performed by heating the powders into a mould, generally we observed a positive influence over the permeability but a negative influence over the magnetic losses.

Abstract: The thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation, modulus of elasticity, were experimentally investigated. Thermal and electrical conductivity measurements were performed up to filler concentration of 30 vol.%. The mechanical properties of high density polyethylene filled with up to 30 vol.% Cu particles were investigated. The tensile strength, elongation and toughness decreased with increasing Cu powder content. This was attributed to the introduction of discontinuities in the polymer structure in which modulus of elasticity increased with increasing the copper content.