Microstructural characterization of laser-irradiated bulk copper under dry sliding conditions

Author(s):  
Brice Raillard ◽  
Carsten Gachot ◽  
Michael Hans ◽  
Peter Leibenguth ◽  
Frank Mücklich

The functionalization of surfaces for tribological applications is still a challenging task. There are numerous techniques for improving the friction and wear behaviour of metallic surfaces ranging from different coatings to textured surfaces. A promising approach for textured surfaces is the usage of laser interference patterning by a pulsed nanosecond Nd:YAG laser. Copper samples have been laser patterned using the laser interference metallurgy process. The resulting topographies were evaluated by white light interferometry and scanning electron microscopy in order to study the homogeneity of the structures at both macro- and micro-scales. Electron backscattering diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were performed in order to study the microstructural and oxide layer modifications induced by laser irradiation. Electron backscattering diffraction measurement did not show fine grains but a small proportion of misorientation due to the high quenching rate. Transmission electron microscopy did not allow to observe oxide layers. The friction and wear behaviour of bulk copper samples structured by laser interference metallurgy have been studied under dry sliding conditions using a tribometer in linear reciprocating sliding mode. Friction coefficient measurements revealed that patterned surfaces present a reduction in friction of up to 70% compared to untreated samples due to their good bearing properties and the reduction of the contact area.

2012 ◽  
Vol 577 ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Yu Shan Li

A mixture of expanded graphite (EG) and boron was ball-milled in a high-energy mill. The microstructure of the milled EG/B powders was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tribological behavior of the milled powders used as lubricating additive was investigated by using a tribo-tester, and the morphology of the worn tribo-surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the powders used as lubricating additive have an obvious anti-friction and wear resistance effect, and the lager the applied load, the lower the friction coefficient and the wear severity.


Author(s):  
G. G. Shaw

The morphology and composition of the fiber-matrix interface can best be studied by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. For some composites satisfactory samples can be prepared by electropolishing. For others such as aluminum alloy-boron composites ion erosion is necessary.When one wishes to examine a specimen with the electron beam perpendicular to the fiber, preparation is as follows: A 1/8 in. disk is cut from the sample with a cylindrical tool by spark machining. Thin slices, 5 mils thick, containing one row of fibers, are then, spark-machined from the disk. After spark machining, the slice is carefully polished with diamond paste until the row of fibers is exposed on each side, as shown in Figure 1.In the case where examination is desired with the electron beam parallel to the fiber, preparation is as follows: Experimental composites are usually 50 mils or less in thickness so an auxiliary holder is necessary during ion milling and for easy transfer to the electron microscope. This holder is pure aluminum sheet, 3 mils thick.


Author(s):  
R. W. Anderson ◽  
D. L. Senecal

A problem was presented to observe the packing densities of deposits of sub-micron corrosion product particles. The deposits were 5-100 mils thick and had formed on the inside surfaces of 3/8 inch diameter Zircaloy-2 heat exchanger tubes. The particles were iron oxides deposited from flowing water and consequently were only weakly bonded. Particular care was required during handling to preserve the original formations of the deposits. The specimen preparation method described below allowed direct observation of cross sections of the deposit layers by transmission electron microscopy.The specimens were short sections of the tubes (about 3 inches long) that were carefully cut from the systems. The insides of the tube sections were first coated with a thin layer of a fluid epoxy resin by dipping. This coating served to impregnate the deposit layer as well as to protect the layer if subsequent handling were required.


Author(s):  
S. Fujishiro

The mechanical properties of three titanium alloys (Ti-7Mo-3Al, Ti-7Mo- 3Cu and Ti-7Mo-3Ta) were evaluated as function of: 1) Solutionizing in the beta field and aging, 2) Thermal Mechanical Processing in the beta field and aging, 3) Solutionizing in the alpha + beta field and aging. The samples were isothermally aged in the temperature range 300° to 700*C for 4 to 24 hours, followed by a water quench. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray method were used to identify the phase formed. All three alloys solutionized at 1050°C (beta field) transformed to martensitic alpha (alpha prime) upon being water quenched. Despite this heavily strained alpha prime, which is characterized by microtwins the tensile strength of the as-quenched alloys is relatively low and the elongation is as high as 30%.


Author(s):  
Nakazo Watari ◽  
Yasuaki Hotta ◽  
Yoshio Mabuchi

It is very useful if we can observe the identical cell elements within the same sections by light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and/or scanning electron microscopy (SEM) sequentially, because, the cell fine structure can not be indicated by LM, while the color is; on the other hand, the cell fine structure can be very easily observed by EM, although its color properties may not. However, there is one problem in that LM requires thick sections of over 1 μm, while EM needs very thin sections of under 100 nm. Recently, we have developed a new method to observe the same cell elements within the same plastic sections using both light and transmission (conventional or high-voltage) electron microscopes.In this paper, we have developed two new observation methods for the identical cell elements within the same sections, both plastic-embedded and paraffin-embedded, using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and/or scanning electron microscopy (Fig. 1).


Author(s):  
R.R. Russell

Transmission electron microscopy of metallic/intermetallic composite materials is most challenging since the microscopist typically has great difficulty preparing specimens with uniform electron thin areas in adjacent phases. The application of ion milling for thinning foils from such materials has been quite effective. Although composite specimens prepared by ion milling have yielded much microstructural information, this technique has some inherent drawbacks such as the possible generation of ion damage near sample surfaces.


Author(s):  
Tai-Te Chao ◽  
John Sullivan ◽  
Awtar Krishan

Maytansine, a novel ansa macrolide (1), has potent anti-tumor and antimitotic activity (2, 3). It blocks cell cycle traverse in mitosis with resultant accumulation of metaphase cells (4). Inhibition of brain tubulin polymerization in vitro by maytansine has also been reported (3). The C-mitotic effect of this drug is similar to that of the well known Vinca- alkaloids, vinblastine and vincristine. This study was carried out to examine the effects of maytansine on the cell cycle traverse and the fine struc- I ture of human lymphoblasts.Log-phase cultures of CCRF-CEM human lymphoblasts were exposed to maytansine concentrations from 10-6 M to 10-10 M for 18 hrs. Aliquots of cells were removed for cell cycle analysis by flow microfluorometry (FMF) (5) and also processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FMF analysis of cells treated with 10-8 M maytansine showed a reduction in the number of G1 cells and a corresponding build-up of cells with G2/M DNA content.


Author(s):  
Bruce Mackay

The broadest application of transmission electron microscopy (EM) in diagnostic medicine is the identification of tumors that cannot be classified by routine light microscopy. EM is useful in the evaluation of approximately 10% of human neoplasms, but the extent of its contribution varies considerably. It may provide a specific diagnosis that can not be reached by other means, but in contrast, the information obtained from ultrastructural study of some 10% of tumors does not significantly add to that available from light microscopy. Most cases fall somewhere between these two extremes: EM may correct a light microscopic diagnosis, or serve to narrow a differential diagnosis by excluding some of the possibilities considered by light microscopy. It is particularly important to correlate the EM findings with data from light microscopy, clinical examination, and other diagnostic procedures.


Author(s):  
J. M. Cowley

The comparison of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with conventional transmission electron microscopy (CTEM) can best be made by means of the Reciprocity Theorem of wave optics. In Fig. 1 the intensity measured at a point A’ in the CTEM image due to emission from a point B’ in the electron source is equated to the intensity at a point of the detector, B, due to emission from a point A In the source In the STEM. On this basis it can be demonstrated that contrast effects In the two types of instrument will be similar. The reciprocity relationship can be carried further to include the Instrument design and experimental procedures required to obtain particular types of information. For any. mode of operation providing particular information with one type of microscope, the analagous type of operation giving the same information can be postulated for the other type of microscope. Then the choice between the two types of instrument depends on the practical convenience for obtaining the required Information.


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