Alternative Liquid Assisted-Sintering of AL/CU Composites Using Selective Powders of AS-Cast Al-ZN Alloy

Al and its alloys constitute one of the most versatile, economical and attractive materials for a wide range of applications. The 7xxx and 2xxx series alloys are those of achieving the highest mechanical strength among aluminum alloys. In this investigation, using powder metallurgy provides the microstructural and mechanical properties characterizations of non-commercial Al6Cu5Zn alloy by using powder metallurgy. Initial powder sizes are determined and the best condition is obtained for the distribution comprised between 75-106 μm. The samples are sintered at 585 oC, 600 oC and 615 oC during 0.5, 1.5 h and 3 h. It is found that mechanical behavior similar to as-cast Al-Cu based alloys is attained (~ 125 MPa) when the samples at 615 oC during 3 h are sintered. Considering the reduction of energy consumption and metal fumes commonly produced in foundry, Al-Zn powder can be used with Al and Cu elemental powders to constitute an Al6Cu5Zn alloy.

Powder Particle Size Effects on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mechanically Alloyed ODS Ferritic Steels

Reduced activation ferritic (RAF) steels are expected to be widely used in challenging nuclear industrial applications under severe thermo-mechanical regimes and intense neutron loads. Therefore, actual research panorama is facing the strengthening strategies necessary to maximize both performance and endurance under these conditions. Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) RAF steels are leader candidates as structural materials in fusion energy reactors thanks to the reinforcement obtained with a fine dispersion of nanosized oxides in their matrix. In this study, the influence of the initial powder particle size and the selected processing route on the final material has been investigated. Two RAF ODS steels coming from atomized pre-alloyed powders with nominal particle powder sizes of 70 and 30 µm and composition Fe-14Cr-2W-0.4Ti-0.3Y2O3 (wt. %) were manufactured by mechanical alloying. Alloyed powders were compacted by hot isostatic pressing, hot crossed rolled, and annealed at 1273 K. Initial powder particle size differences minimize after milling. Both steels present an almost completely recrystallized material and similar grain sizes. The same type and distributions of secondary phases, Cr-W-rich, Ti-rich, and Y-Ti oxide nanoparticles, have been also characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in both alloy samples. The strengthening effect has been confirmed by tensile and Charpy impact tests. The two alloys present similar strength values with slightly better ductile brittle transition temperature (DBTT) and ductility for the steel produced with the smaller powder size.

Формирование мелкодисперсного термоэлектрика Si-=SUB=-1-x-=/SUB=-Ge-=SUB=-x-=/SUB=- при электроимпульсном плазменном спекании

The kinetics of diffusion processes occurring d0uring the formation of polycrystalline Si1-xGex nanostructures (x=0.20, 0.35) by electro-pulse plasma sintering in the temperature range 20-1200°C was studied for the first time. A mechanism for the formation of a solid solution of SiGe is proposed as a result of a comprehensive study of the microstructure and phase composition of samples with particle sizes from 150 nm to 100 μm, together with the analysis of experimental sintering maps. It is based on the phenomenon of mutual diffusion of Si and Ge atoms that occurs during the entire sintering process. For the selected sintering modes, the grain size of the formed SiGe corresponds to the size of the initial powder particles.

Effect of masses of active layers of C60-4-methylphenylhydrazone N-isoamylisatin fullerene heterostructures on their rectifying characteristics

An organocarbon heterostructure consisting of thin films of fullerene and 4-methylphenylhydrazone N-isoamylisatin was obtained from a solution by irrigation. The procedure for obtaining the samples, the microscopy, and synthesis of the initial powder material have been described. The results of an alternate X-ray phase analysis of the substances used has been presented. The analysis of changes in the electrical and optical characteristics of the active layers, depending on the mass of the solid phase has been carried out. The relationship between a sequential increase in film thickness and an increase in the absorption coefficient of infrared electromagnetic radiation has been revealed. Having determined the optimal thicknesses of the active layers of the heterostructure, based on fullerene C60 and 4-methylphenylhydrazone N-isoamylisatin, we achieved an increase in photoconductivity by two orders of magnitude. The obtained light current – voltage characteristics of such thin-film structures are rectilinear in nature with a direct load of up to 10 V.

Thermodynamic analysis of oxidation during selective laser melting of pure titanium

Purpose When a pure titanium component is fabricated in a selective laser melting (SLM) process using titanium powder, the oxygen concentration of the SLM sample increases compared to the initial powder. The purpose of this paper is to study the reason for increasing oxygen concentration after SLM. Design/methodology/approach To understand this phenomenon, the authors analyzed the oxidation behavior during the SLM process thermodynamically. Findings Based on the laser parameters used in this study, the temperature of the Ti melt during the SLM process was expected to rise to 2,150°C. Based on the thermodynamic analysis, the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure for oxidation was 2.32 × 10−19 atm at 2,150°C when the dissolved oxygen concentration in the titanium is 0.2 wt.%. However, the oxygen partial pressure inside the SLM chamber was 1 × 10−3 atm, which is much higher than the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure. Therefore, oxidation occurred during the SLM process, and the oxygen concentration of the SLM sample increased compared to the initial powder. Originality/value Most studies on fabricating Ti components using additive manufacturing (AM) have been focused on how the changes in the microstructures and mechanical properties depend on the process parameters. However, there are a few studies that analyzed the oxygen concentration change of Ti during the AM process and its causes. In this study, the authors analyzed the oxidation behavior during the SLM process thermodynamically.

The Influence of Powder Milling on Properties of SPS Compacted FeAl

The Fe-28 at.% Al alloy was studied in this article. The aim was to describe the influence of gas atomized powder pre-milling before SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) sintering on the structure and properties of the bulk materials. The initial powder was milled for 0.5, 1, and 8 h. It was proven that 1 h milling leads to the change in size and morphology of the particles, B2→A2 phase transformation, and to the contamination with the material from a milling vessel. Powder materials were compacted by the SPS process at 900, 1000, and 1100 °C. The differences between the bulk materials were tested by LM, SEM, and TEM microscopy, XRD, and neutron diffraction methods. It was proven that, although the structures of initial powder (B2) and milled powder (A2) were different, both provide after-sintering material with the same structure (D03) with similar structural parameters. Higher hardness and improved ductility of the material sintered from the milled powder are likely caused by the change in chemical composition during the milling process.