Solid State Phenomena Vols. 172-174

Abstract: The hardening behavior of precipitation was studied during aging of Fe-Cr alloys. This mechanical behavior is associated with the nanometric modulation structure of the coherent decomposed Fe-rich and Cr-rich phases formed by the spinodal decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution. The growth kinetics of spinodal decomposition was very slow and it increased during coarsening stage. The morphology of decomposed phases consisted of an interconnected irregular shape with no preferential alignment for short aging times and a further aging caused the change to a plate shape of the decomposed Cr-rich phase aligned in the <110> directions of the Fe-rich matrix. The rapid increase in hardness and embrittlement seem to be associated with the coherency and nanometer size of the spinodally-decomposed phases in the aged alloys.

Abstract: Cluster dynamics (CD) is used to study the evolution of the size distributions of vacancy clusters (VC), self-interstitial atom (SIA) clusters (SIAC) and Cr precipitates in neutron irradiated Fe-12.5at%Cr alloys at T = 573 K with irradiation doses up to 12 dpa and a flux of 140 ndpa/s. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) data on the defect structure of this material irradiated at doses of 0.6 and 1.5 dpa are used to calibrate the model. A saturation behavior was found by CD for the free vacancy and free SIA concentrations as well as for the number density of the SIAC and the volume fraction of the Cr precipitates for neutron exposures above 0.006 dpa. The CD simulations also indicate the presence of VC with radii less than 0.5 nm and a strong SIAC peak with a mean diameter of about 0.5 nm, both invisible in SANS and TEM experiments. A specific surface tension of about 0.028 J/m² between the a matrix and the Cr-rich a' precipitate was found as best fit value for reproducing the long-term Cr evolution in the irradiated Fe-12.5%Cr alloys observed by SANS.

Abstract: The use of Nb(C,N) to pin prior austenite grains during thermomechanical processing can give rise to bimodal structures linked to Nb segregation and subsequent variation in precipitate distribution and stability on reheating and deformation. The segregation tendency of Al is much less compared with Nb so that AlN may provide grain boundary pinning in regions of reduced Nb(C,N) volume fraction and stability. Quantification of precipitate and prior austenite grain size distributions after reheating has confirmed the governing mechanisms of precipitate dissolution / coarsening whilst identifying grain boundary pinning by AlN at temperature below 1125 °C, but controlled by Nb(C,N) at higher temperatures.

Abstract: The LuB₁₂ ® LuB₄ ® LuB₂ phase transformations on annealing in vacuum (T=(1400÷1800) K, p < 10^-2 Pa) are investigated with use of the parent single crystals. SEM and X-ray researches of the corresponding lutetium boride single crystals were carried out before and after their annealing. It is shown that the LuB₁₂ → LuB₄ phase transformation takes place in surface layer and transition region spreads inwards the single crystal bulk with time. According to the assessed Lu-B phase diagram the LuB₄ phase transformation into other individual phases is impossible, and at first it is shown that under corresponding conditions the LuB₄ → LuB₂ spontaneous phase transformation takes place both on the surface and in the LuB₄ single crystal bulk.

Abstract: The reactive diffusion between Ti and a bronze was experimentally examined using sandwich diffusion couples consisting of Ti and a Cu-9.3Sn-0.3Ti alloy. The diffusion couples were isothermally annealed at temperatures of T = 923-1023 K. During annealing, CuTi, (Cu, Sn)₄Ti₃ and (Sn, Cu)₅Ti₆ compounds are formed as layers at the interface in the diffusion couple. The overall growth of the compound layers is controlled by volume diffusion at T = 1023 K but by boundary and volume diffusion at T = 923-973 K. Hence, the interface reaction is not the bottleneck for the growth of the compound layers under the present experimental conditions.

Abstract: Microstructure and mechanical properties of NiAlV alloys of the composition belonging to the pseudo-binary Ni₃Al-Ni₃V cross-section were investigated. The samples were prepared by the cold crucible levitation melting (CCLM) and by re-melting and crystallizing in the small volume copper mould. The phase composition of the samples, with should result from the eutectoidal decomposition was not found. Instead the Ni₃(Al,V) and Ni(Al,V) solid solution or seldom disordered solid solution were retained due to the relatively high cooling rates. In the compression test the NiAlV alloys crystallized in the copper mould revealed high ductility and strength.

Abstract: The precipitation of a-phase has been investigated in a concentrated b-alloy of the Ti-V-Cu system. a-precipitates in geometrically coupled forms were developed in the alloy when subject to isothermal ageing at 500°C. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed that a-phase embryos tend to nucleate in a symmetrical manner directly from an early-stage solute-partitioned diffusional product. The a-precipitates so developed constitute twin-related variants characterized by a twin plane lying on one of the {0111}_a planes. The results are discussed with respect to the role of Cu on the formation of heterogeneous nucleation sites for a-phase.

Abstract: The paper deals with phase diagram calculations and predictions of selected binary, ternary, and Zr-Nb-O-H quaternary system. These systems are important as alloy base for cladding materials involving fissionable fuel in nuclear industry. The main attention is focused on the phase diagram prediction of Zr-1wt.%Nb-O alloy system at temperature conditions up to 2 000 °C. In addition, the influence of hydrogen content on the Zr-1wt.%Nb-O phase diagram is discussed. According to service conditions in nuclear industry, 1 000, 2 000 and 3 000 ppm of hydrogen contents are considered. The achieved results are presented as iso-concentration section of the phase diagrams. Impact on mechanical properties of the material under view is discussed.

Abstract: Superaustenitic stainless steels exhibit excellent corrosion resistance, at a wide variety of exposure temperatures, especially in chloride containing environments, coupled with desirable mechanical properties. Previous studies have shown that these steels are prone to precipitation of secondary phases, such as sigma phase (σ), chi phase (χ), Laves-phase, carbides, nitrides or secondary austenite, when exposed at elevated temperatures, directly affecting their mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour. A detailed study of the effect of isothermal ageing on the microstructure of S32654 (Fe-24Cr-21Ni-7Mo-0.5N-0.013C) and S31254 (Fe-20Cr-18Ni-6Mo-0.2N-0.012C) superaustenitic stainless steels was carried out. Samples were aged within the temperature range of 650 ^οC to 950 ^οC for times up to 3000 h. Following ageing, precipitation of secondary phases was clearly observed with precipitates varying in volume fraction, size, shape and spatial distribution. Several secondary phases were identified via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED). The orientation relationships between the austenitic matrix and the secondary phases were identified. Interaction and also phase transformation among different types of precipitates, such as between precipitates and the austenitic matrix were observed and an attempt of understanding these phase transformations was carried out.

Abstract: The precipitation of NbC in austenite is an important mechanism for improving the strength of steel because NbC-precipitates are known to decrease the ferrite grain size during the subsequent phase transformations upon cooling. The effect of the interaction between niobium (Nb) in solid solution and NbC-precipitates on the austenite-to-ferrite phase-transformation kinetics is not entirely clear. We study a high-purity Fe-C-Mn-Nb alloy cooled at different rates. Different annealing times at 850°C were applied to create different number densities and sizes of the NbC-precipitates in order to study the effect of NbC precipitation on the transformation kinetics. The alloy that is used in this study has an atomic ratio of Nb:C=1.3:1. The fraction of ferrite is measured as a function of temperature during cooling by means of dilatometry. The ferrite grain size is measured by means of optical microscopy. The results are interpreted with thermodynamic and kinetic models.