Surface Structure Analysis of Initial High-Temperature Oxidation of SS441 Stainless Steel

Chromia-forming ferritic stainless steel (FSS) is a highly promising interconnect material for application in solid oxide fuel cells. In this study, initial oxidation of chromium oxides was performed at 500–800 °C to understand the evolution of materials at an early stage. The structural variations in oxide scales were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), laser confocal microscopy (LSCM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. Surface electrochemical properties were investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to understand how the heat treatment temperature affected surface impedance. Treatment temperatures higher than 700 °C facilitate the diffusion of Cr and Mn, thus allowing ferritic spinels to form on the surface and leading to high electrical conductivity.

Development of Scientific Fundamentals for the Conversion of a Virtual Binary Lead Selenide Ferroelectric into a Real Ferroelectric of Lead Selenite for Physico-Chemical Sensors

The scientific basis for the production of a new composite material (1-x)PbSexPbSeO3, where x=0-1, by oxidation with oxygen at temperatures of 500-550 °C and oxidation times of 0.5-4 h from the initial phase of PbSe in the form of powder, film or compact material, having a ferroelectric phase transition in disordered crystals is developed. On the X-ray spectra of the original PbSe samples oxidized at 500°C (oxidation time of 0.5 h) it has been found that the PbSe phase reflexes are predominately present, including the X-ray spectra of the original PbSe samples oxidized at 500 °C (oxidation time of 4 h) - PbSeO3 monoclinic phase reflexes. For all other PbSe oxygen-oxidized samples at temperatures of 500-550 °C and within the time range of 0.5-4 h, X-ray spectra show the simultaneous presence of X-ray reflexes of both phases with the trend of increasing the PbSeO3 phase as the oxidation time increases. Temperature measurements of the DC resistance of the PbSe samples revealed an abnormal change in electrical resistance at the initial oxidation stage for both the film and the compact material, and further oxidation contributed to the capsulation of PbSe grains by the dielectric casing PbSeO3 and the gradual increase in the resistance of the material.

The Effect of Various Additions on the Oxidation Behavior of the γ/γ′ Ni-Based Alloy

The oxidation behavior of four γ/γ′ Ni-based alloys: without additions, and containing: Hf (1.0 wt%), a combination of Hf and Y (0.3 wt% and 0.03 wt%, respectively), and a combination of Hf and Si (1.0 wt% and 1.0 wt%, respectively) was studied in air under isothermal (50 h) and thermal cycling (up to 2225 1-h cycles) conditions. Samples were characterized using SEM, EDX and XRD techniques. The results indicated that all the additions improved the oxidation resistance of the alloy but only in the case of materials containing the (Hf + Y) combination of additions was a long-term effect achieved. Substantial weight losses were observed on the other unmodified and (Hf + Si)-containing materials during thermal cycling after short exposure periods, while on material containing only additions of Hf, they occurred significantly later. Kinetic studies showed the highest oxidation rate in the case of the (Hf + Si)-containing alloys and the fastest initial oxidation, prior to the parabolic law-obeying stage, of alloy with Hf-additions, only. The results indicate the superior effect of simultaneous application of Hf and Y additions at levels not exceeding their solubility limits and that lowering its effectiveness Hf overdoping (1 wt%) cannot be effectively counteracted by the addition of 1% Si.

The Initial Oxidation of HfNiSn Half-Heusler Alloy by Oxygen and Water Vapor

The MNiSn (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) n-type semiconductor half-Heusler alloys are leading candidates for the use as highly efficient waste heat recovery devices at elevated temperatures. For practical applications, it is crucial to consider also the environmental stability of the alloys at working conditions, and therefore it is required to characterize and understand their oxidation behavior. This work is focused on studying the surface composition and the initial oxidation of HfNiSn alloy by oxygen and water vapor at room temperature and at 1000 K by utilizing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. During heating in vacuum, Sn segregated to the surface, creating a sub-nanometer overlayer. Exposing the surface to both oxygen and water vapor resulted mainly in Hf oxidation to HfO2 and only minor oxidation of Sn, in accordance with the oxide formation enthalpy of the components. The alloy was more susceptible to oxidation by water vapor compared to oxygen. Long exposure of HfNiSn and ZrNiSn samples to moderate water vapor pressure and temperature, during system bakeout, resulted also in a formation of a thin SnO2 overlayer. Some comparison to the oxidation of TiNiSn and ZrNiSn, previously reported, is given.

Oxidation behavior of non-stoichiometric (Zr,Hf,Ti)Cx carbide solid solution powders in air

Multi-component solid solutions with non-stoichiometric compositions are characteristics of ultra-high temperature carbides as promising materials for hypersonic vehicles. However, for group IV transition-metal carbides, the oxidation behavior of multi-component non-stoichiometric (Zr,Hf,Ti)Cx carbide solid solution has not been clarified yet. The present work fabricated four kinds of (Zr,Hf,Ti)Cx carbide solid solution powders by free-pressureless spark plasma sintering to investigate the oxidation behavior of (Zr,Hf,Ti)Cx in air. The effects of metallic atom composition on oxidation resistance were examined. The results indicate that the oxidation kinetics of (Zr,Hf,Ti)Cx are composition dependent. A high Hf content in (Zr,Hf,Ti)Cx was beneficial to form an amorphous Zr-Hf-Ti-C-O oxycarbide layer as an oxygen barrier to enhance the initial oxidation resistance. Meanwhile, an equiatomic ratio of metallic atoms reduced the growth rate of (Zr,Hf,Ti)O2 oxide, increasing its phase stability at high temperatures, which improved the oxidation activation energy of (Zr, Hf, Ti)Cx.

The origin of the high electrochemical activity of pseudo-amorphous iridium oxides

Combining high activity and stability, iridium oxide remains the gold standard material for the oxygen evolution reaction in acidic medium for green hydrogen production. The reasons for the higher electroactivity of amorphous iridium oxides compared to their crystalline counterpart is still the matter of an intense debate in the literature and, a comprehensive understanding is needed to optimize its use and allow for the development of water electrolysis. By producing iridium-based mixed oxides using aerosol, we are able to decouple the electronic processes from the structural transformation, i.e. Ir oxidation from IrO2 crystallization, occurring upon calcination. Full characterization using in situ and ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy allows to unambiguously attribute their high electrochemical activity to structural features and rules out the iridium oxidation state as a critical parameter. This study indicates that short-range ordering, corresponding to sub-2nm crystal size for our samples, drives the activity independently of the initial oxidation state and composition of the calcined iridium oxides.

Effect of Al2O3 and SiO2 Inert-Fillers on the Microstructural Evolution and High Temperature Oxidation Resistance of B Modified Silicides Coatings Prepared by Pack Cementation Technology

In this study, B modified silicide coatings were prepared on Nb-Si based alloy with Al2O3 or SiO2 inert-filler by pack cementation technology. Both coatings primarily consisted of a (Nb,X)Si2 with a (Nb,X)B2 + (Nb,X)Si2 outer layer. After oxidation at 1250 °C for 100 h, the coatings showed good oxidation resistance due to the formation of a dense silica. The oxidation products of the coating prepared with Al2O3 inert-filler consisted of SiO2, TiO2 and Cr2O3, while that of the coating prepared with SiO2 inert-filler consisted of SiO2, TiO2, Cr2O3, and HfO2. The different oxidation products may be due to the different oxidation process of these two sample at initial oxidation stage.

Kinetics study of CWPO of phenol wastewater over Cu-ZSM-5/PSSF catalysts prepared by ion-exchanged method

Cu-ZSM-5 was prepared on the paper-like sintered stainless steel fibers (PSSF) by ion-exchange method for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of phenol in a fixed bed reactor. The prepared Cu-ZSM-5/PSSF catalyst was characterized by SEM, BET, XRD, FT-IR and UV-vis, respectively. And the effects of different catalyst bed height, reaction temperature and feed flow rate on catalytic performance were investigated to obtain optimum reaction condition. Finally, the catalytic reaction kinetics analysis over Cu-ZSM-5/PSSF catalyst were carried out with the Power-rate Law Kinetic model. The experimental results showed that the reaction order was the first-order reaction, and the activation energy of the oxidation reaction was Ea=72.9 kJ/mol. The initial oxidation rate equation (−rA0=5.36×108 e−72994/RT CA) was obtained for phenol degradation using Cu-ZSM-5/PSSF catalyst.