Materials Science Forum Vols. 706-709

Abstract: Hydrogen gas is believed to play a more important role for energy supply in future instationary and mobile applications. In most cases, metallic materials are embrittled when hydrogen atoms are dissolved interstitially into their lattice. Concerning steels, in particular the ductility of ferritic grades is degraded in the presence of hydrogen. In contrast, austenitic steels usually show a lower tendency to hydrogen embrittlement. However, the so-called “metastable” austenitic steels are prone to hydrogen environmental embrittlement (HEE), too. Here, AISI 304 type austenitic steel was tensile tested in air at ambient pressure and in a 400 bar hydrogen gas atmosphere at room temperature. The screening of different alloys in the compositional range of the AISI 304 standard was performed with the ambition to optimize alloying for hydrogen applications. The results of the mechanical tests reveal the influence of the alloying elements Cr, Ni, Mn and Si on HEE. Besides nickel, a positive influence of silicon and chromium was found. Experimental results are supported by thermodynamic equilibrium calculations concerning austenite stability and stacking fault energy. All in all, the results of this work are useful for alloy design for hydrogen applications. A concept for a lean alloyed austenitic stainless steel is finally presented.

Abstract: Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance strongly depends on properties of the fuel cell stack bipolar plates (BPs). Bipolar plates are a key component of fuel cells. Functions of materials used for fuel cells include even distribution of gas fuel and air, conduction of electricity between the adjacent cells, heat transfer from the cell as well as prevention of gas leakage and cooldown. Due to multifunctionality of fuel cell plates, choice of materials used for plates is immensely difficult. This paper presents opportunities of application of a new technology of powder sintering for creation of parts for electricity and heat generators. Sintered stainless steel 316LHD was investigated as a candidate material for bipolar plate materials. 316L powders were compacted with the following load: 700MPa, 550MPa, and 200MPa, and then sintered at the temperature of 1250 °C in hydrogen medium. The main criterion for selection of a particular material for components of fuel cells is their corrosion resistance in operating conditions of hydrogen fuel cells. In order to determine resistance to corrosion in the environment of operation of fuel cells, potentiokinetic curves (as a function of temperature) were registered in synthetic solution 0.1M H₂SO₄ + 2 ppmF^- at 80°C. The investigations also covered measurements of mechanical properties and microstructural testing of sinters with austenitic structure.

Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the catalytic properties of intermetallic Ni₃Fe foil. We fabricated Ni₃Fe foil of 30 µm in thickness by a metallurgical process, and examined the catalytic activity of the Ni₃Fe foil for methanol decomposition from 513 to 973 K. The Ni₃Fe foil showed activity for methanol decomposition above 623 K. The activity increased with the increase of reaction temperature. Surface analysis revealed that a surface structure of fine Ni-Fe particles dispersed on carbon nanofibers was formed on the foil during the reaction. The activity is attributed to the formation of this fine structure.

Abstract: The oxidation resistance of TiAl-alloys can be improved drastically by treating the surface of the components with small amounts of fluorine. The oxidation mechanism is changed. Hence, the formation of a fast growing mixed oxide scale on untreated alloys is suppressed. Instead a thin protective alumina scale is formed on samples after fluorine treatment. The different methods only influence the surface region of the components so that the bulk properties are not affected. Recent results achieved with F-containing inorganic compounds showed that the fluorine effect can be improved even further. TiAl-specimens were treated only with fluorine and with F-containing compounds in several ways and their performance during high temperature oxidation tests in air was investigated. Results of isothermal and thermocyclic oxidation tests are presented. The results are discussed in terms of a later use of the fluorine effect for technical applications.

Abstract: Gamma titanium aluminides (γ-TiAl) have been investigated extensively for more than 25 years, since they are considered to be candidate materials for advanced jet engine components, automobile exhaust valves, turbo-chargers, and so on. Many researchers have reported that the mechanical properties of γ-TiAl have been improved by micro-alloying and thermo-mechanical microstructure control. Recently, γ-TiAl entered a new era by being applied to low-pressure turbine blades in newly developed commercial jet engines. In order to spread their applications further, material durability and affordability have become key issues. The tensile properties of the Ti-Al-X (X=Cr or W) have been studied intensively at various strain rates and test temperatures in a vacuum atmosphere. It has been demonstrated that the additions of a few atomic percent of Cr or W to γ-TiAl shifts the phase stability drastically and creates relatively fine-grain microstructures consisting of α₂+β+γ in three phases. Although the microstructures of Ti-46at%Al-2.7at%Cr and Ti-45at%Al-1.9at%W show similar morphology, the high-temperature mechanical properties of each indicate distinguishable properties. The former specimens have demonstrated the capability of super-plastic deformation at temperatures above 1323K; the latter specimens, however, have showed relatively higher tensile strength than those of the other specimens having ternary compositions (Ti-Al-X). The differences in the tensile properties of Ti-Al-X (X=Cr or W) have been discussed in conjunction with microstructures and the effects of solid-solution hardening due to W atoms.

Abstract: Surface conditions are of significant importance for the fatigue performance of rotating components for aircraft and automotive applications. Compared to the electropolished reference state the fatigue performance of gamma titanium aluminides at ambient temperature can be significantly improved by shot peening, while the fatigue strength after roller burnishing is hardly affected. Fatigue strength improvements after shot peening are mainly caused by cyclically stable residual compressive stresses in the near-surface region. Notably, also conventional turning operations generate high dislocation densities and residual compressive stresses in the near-surface region resulting in fatigue strength improvements similar to shot peening. Surface strengthening by shot peening or machining leads to subsurface fatigue crack nucleation and overcompensates the detrimental influence of the high surface roughness on fatigue. However, for temperatures above 650 °C, residual compressive stresses induced by shot peening and machining quickly relax. This indicates that, at elevated temperatures, surface roughness and dislocation strengthening become increasingly important for the fatigue performance of components.

Abstract: Two-phase single-crystal intermetallic alloys composed of Ni₃Al (L1₂) and Ni₃V (D0₂₂) with some orientations were compressed at various temperatures, and their deformation microstructures were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The deformation at room temperature was governed by the glide motion of dislocations in the primary Ni₃Al precipitates and the activation of the microtwins in the Ni₃V variant structures in the channel regions. The interfaces between the primary Ni₃Al precipitates and the Ni₃V variant structures are suggested to work as the barriers to the dislocation motion. While, at temperature above the peak temperature (873 K), the deformation microstructures of the two-phase intermetallic alloy exhibited the ribbon-like deformation microstructures penetrating the constituent phases i.e. through the interfaces between primary Ni₃Al precipitates and the Ni₃V variant structures in the channel regions. It was also suggested that the superior strength in the two-phase intermetallic alloys is due to the high flow strength of the Ni₃V phases and to the interfacial hardening receiving when the dislocations activated in the primary Ni₃Al precipitates propagate to the channel regions.

Abstract: In this study, the friction and wear properties of the Fe₇Mo₆-based alloy/Al₂O₃ tribopair were investigated at high temperatures in air and at 298 K in water. The Fe₇Mo₆-based alloy/Al₂O₃ tribopair exhibited friction coefficients as low as 0.5 at 298 K and 873 K in air. On the other hand, this tribopair exhibited higher friction coefficients at 573 K than at 298 K and 873 K. It was also found that the friction coefficients of this tribopair were approximately 0.5 in water. The Fe₇Mo₆-based alloy disk specimens and their paired Al₂O₃ ball specimens exhibited the highest specific wear rates at 873 K in air. Oxygen-rich phase was observed on the worn surfaces of all the disk specimens. Concerning the friction and wear tests at high temperatures in air, the amount of the oxygen-rich phase increased with increasing the testing temperature. In addition, a little larger amount of the oxygen-rich phase was observed on the worn surface formed at 298 K in water than that formed at 298 K in air.

Abstract: β solidifying γ titanium aluminide alloys exhibit fine and homogeneous microstructures in the cast condition, in particular if the alloys contain B as a grain refining agent. Following work in the literature [1], it is demonstrated that the grain refining effect due to B is solely attributed in such alloys to its effect on the solid-state β/α transformation. The results further show that grain refinement in these materials can be obtained by a simple heat treatment, even if the microstructure has been extensively coarsened through prior heat-treatment.

Abstract: The formation energies of the T.M impurities Ti and Zr were calculated using DFT calculations at absolute zero and ab initio MD simulations at 300 K. We found that, with increasing temperature, Zr impurities become more stable and prefer to segregate at the interface of ∑5 (310)[001] grain boundary. In the case of Ti, the results show that it remains a stable defect when temperature increases.