Materials Science Forum Vol. 879

Abstract: Shape memory alloys (SMA) have been at the forefront of research in recent years. They have been used for a wide variety of applications in various fields. This work presents a brief study at the atomic scale of Cu-Al based Shape Memory Alloys. Using first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) method, the stability of different austenitic and martensitic phases of Cu₃Al, the effect of intrinsic vacancies, the doping effect by an element X (X = Be, Zn, Ti, Ni, Ag and Au) have been studied.

Abstract: Phase constitution and martensitic transformation behavior were investigated for a Au–51Ti–18Co alloy heat-treated at 1173 K to 1373 K for 3.6 ks. The Au–51Ti–18Co alloy was fabricated by Ar arc-melting technique and subsequently by hot-forging at 1423 K for 10.8 ks. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that B2 parent phase, B19 martensite phase and AuTi₃ simultaneously appeared regardless of the heat-treatment temperatures. By increasing the heat-treatment temperature, the volume fraction of AuTi₃ was slightly reduced. Besides, the lattice transformation strain which was calculated from the precisely-determined lattice parameters was evaluated to be 7 % in the Au–51Ti–18Co alloy in all the heat-treated conditions. This value is comparable to that of NiTi practical alloys. From differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, reverse martensitic transformation temperature was slightly increased with the heat-treatment temperature. From the lattice transformation strain point of views, the Au–51Ti–18Co has a large potential for novel biomedical shape memory alloy.

Abstract: Nowadays, cutting tools, designed to be used for machining without lubricants, are developed to improve the high working speed capabilities. With this respect, quaternary Ti-and N-based coatings are able to significant increase hardness, wear resistance and high temperature oxidation resistance. One of the major drawbacks still consists on the limited thermal stability of such coatings, which is reported to be about 600°C. In the present study, thermal stability studies of a nanostructured multi-layered N-based (AlTiCr_xN_1-x) coating on a HSS 6-5-2 tool steel were carried out. Two quantities were calculated out of the hardness and elastic modulus of the coatings. One is the ratio H/E that represents the coating resistance to compression without failure; another one is H³/E², which provides information on the specific contact pressure limit without failure. It was found that, by using the less demanding thermal cycling mode, the coating ability to plastically deform without damage, is retained up to 800-1000°C. The highest, and more effective coating plasticity index was obtained by using the less demanding cycling mode, while, the other two modes induced a continuous index decrease with temperature.

Abstract: Gas nitrocarburizing combined with a post-oxidation treatment is an interesting industrial process developed in order to improve wear and corrosion resistance of low alloyed steel components. In the present work, the microstructure resulting by a thermochemical treatment, which comprises nitriding, nitrocarburizing and post-oxidation stages, applied to an industrial 16MnCr5 component, has been studied. Both the nitriding and nitrocarburizing temperatures were systematically changed in order to study the resulting phases in the compound layer. The depth of the compound layer have been measured by optical microscopy to evaluate the effect due to the variations in the process variables during the nitrocarburizing process. Moreover, the microstructure has been investigated by means of a scanning electron microscope equipped with a electron backscatter diffraction detector in order to assess the amount and the distribution of Fe-N-C phases. A temperature increase from 510 up to 550°C during the nitriding process inside a NH₃ atmosphere induces a higher fraction of ε-Fe_2-3(C,N) compounds. On the contrary, nitrocarburizing at 600°C instead of 580°C under a gaseous mix of NH₃ (50%), CO₂ and N₂ favors a greater amount of γ'-Fe₄(C,N) nitrides. A greater amount of porosity in the outer part of the compound layer favors a thicker oxide film obtainable with the post-oxidation process.

Abstract: In an earlier study, a 3-D thermomechanical coupled finite element model was built and experimentally validated to investigate the evolution of the thermal residual stresses and distortions in electron beam additive manufactured Ti-6Al-4V build plates. In this study, an investigation using this robust and accurate model was focused on an efficient preheating method, in which the electron beam quickly scanned across the substrate to preheat the build plate prior to the deposition. Various preheat times, beam powers, scan rates, scanning paths and cooling times (between the end of current preheat scan/deposition layer and the beginning of the next preheat scan/deposition layer) were examined, and the maximum distortion along the centerline of the substrate and the maximum longitudinal residual stress along the normal direction on the middle cross-section of the build plate were quantitatively compared. The results show that increasing preheat times and beam powers could effectively reduce both distortion and residual stress for multiple layers/passes components.

Abstract: In this work, Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys for automotive body panels were designed and the related ageing behaviours were discussed in detail to help understand natural ageing and pre-ageing, as well as their influence on the subsequent paint-bake response. The clustering behavior of these Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys in different ageing conditions was investigated by hardness / yield strength and electrical conductivity testing. The microstructure was investigated by using Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) technique, along with Scanning Electron Microscopy with Backscattered Electron Detector (BSE). The results show that the paint bake response is strongly influenced by the pre-ageing and natural ageing conditions. Both alloys show serrated yielding in a short natural ageing condition. Immediate high-temperature pre-ageing treatments were found to give a promising hardening response during the subsequent artificial ageing/ paint baking at 170^oC.

Abstract: The lead base anodes (Pb-0.07% Ca-1.3% Sn) of 6 mm thick have limited working life due to their loss of thickness and corrosion during the electrowinning process. If this loss of thickness is combined with a low yield stress of the anodes, these are much more likely to suffer premature deformations and distortions in cells. The aim of this study is to optimize the deformation hardening of the anodes, so as to achieve the best combination of yield stress and corrosion resistance to increase their working life. To achieve this the aged anodes were cold rolled to different area reductions from the standard 50% to 75%. To each one of these rolled anodes its yield stress was determined by plane compression tests, their grain sizes was measured by means of optical microscopy and their corrosion rate was determined by coulomb metric assays in a cell using an electrolyte concentration of sulfuric acid of 180 g/l and a oxidation current density of 300 A/m².It was found that the maximum yield stress of the anodes increases from 58 MPa to 64 MPa when cold reduction goes up from 50% and reach 70% . Regarding the corrosion rate, the maximum and minimum values were 0.33 mm/ year and 0.30 mm / year, i.e., with no significant differences between the different rolled anodes. Based on the above results it is concluded that an increase in the working life of the anodes is obtained simply by giving them greater cold rolling deformation from the current 50% to 70% of area reduction.

Abstract: Waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastest growing advanced type of solid waste streams in the urban environment worldwide and contains interesting amounts of precious metals. Hydrometallurgical technique is fast emerging as preferred process for the recovery of a variety of metals due to its lower energy consume and lower smelter emissions than conventional pyrometallurgical processes. In this work, a hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of gold and silver from electronic scraps was studied. In place of cyanide, thiosulfate was chosen as complexing agent for gold. Thiosulfate leaching can be considered a non-toxic process and the gold dissolution rates can be faster than conventional cyanidation. The electronic scraps, obtained from “end of life” mobile phones, were crushed and pre-treated with nitric acid before the leaching. Different parameters were studied: concentration of thiosulfate, temperature and reaction time. Moreover, the use of ultrasound to assist the hydrometallurgical gold extraction was investigated, as its application in ores leaching shows a greater metals release in shorter time and the advantage of working at lower concentration of reagents and at lower temperature. In this work, the use of ultrasound allowed a higher recovery of the precious metals than conventional leaching in all the conditions studied (different concentrations of reagents, temperature and reaction time). Moreover, the studied process allowed also the recovery of the other metals present in the waste (Cu, Sn and Ag).

Abstract: A high-pressure die-cast magnesium alloy plate was friction stir processed at high rotation rates with different advancing speeds. The stirred zone was very narrow around the tool and this made the friction stir process difficult to occur in the whole thickness of the plate. Intermetallic-phase network at grain boundaries was refined due to partial dissolution and fragmentation of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ β-phase during the friction stir process; the likely increment of solute content in solid solution was exploited for aging to improve hardness. The ductility of friction stir processed samples deformed at 300° and 350°C substantially increased compared to the base material and to room temperature strained samples.

Abstract: A high pressure die cast Mg-9%Al-1%Zn alloy was friction stir processed at two high rotation rates and advancing speeds. Tensile tests were performed at higher temperature to study the mechanical properties of the microstructure induced by the friction stir process. Fracture surfaces resulting from tensile tests were observed by scanning electron microscopy and investigated by microanalysis. The fracture occurred in the tmaz and inside the stirring zone, depending on deformation conditions (temperature and strain rate). The morphology of the fracture surface varied from ductile to brittle in the same sample depending on phase type. Microhardness was measured on cross sections perpendicular to the advancing direction of the stirring pin, at various depth levels, before performing tensile tests to estimate the attitude of a single region to be deformed.