Bridgman growth and electrical properties of Nd-doped PMN-PT single crystal with ultrahigh piezoelectricity

Using the polycrystalline material with a nominal composition of Nd0.01Pb0.985[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.70Ti0.30]O3, a Nd-doped PMN-PT single crystal has been grown successfully by vertical Bridgman process. The perovskite structure and the crystalline phase...

Innovative Casting Methods for Single Crystal Turbine Blades

This report outlines a succinct analysis of the contemporary casting methods in single-crystal turbine blades. Furthermore, this paper also provides an examination of the solidification procedure in mixed turbine blades. The couple cooling and heating operation system was advanced to obtain identical thermal positions for single crystal (SC) solidification in the blade group, thereby significantly diminishing the associated flaws in the contemporary Bridgman process. The chemistry science of Nickel based alloys planed for single crystal (SC) gas turbine blades has been notably improved upon, especially when considering the initial production of alloys. The second and third production within the total operation has been enhanced by the introduction of rhenium (Re). Surged density, grain flaws, and microstructural stableness have presented themselves as significant issues within this process. Additionally, it is imperative to minimize the concentrations of the different alloying components.

Application of Inner Radiation Baffles in the Bridgman Process for Flattening the Temperature Profile and Controlling the Columnar Grain Structure of Directionally Solidified Ni-Based Superalloys

The technique of flattening the temperature profile and controlling the formation of both the dendritic microstructure and grain structure in the directional solidification of nickel-based superalloy casting, using the novel inner radiation baffles (IRBs) in the Bridgman process, is presented in this paper. These baffles matched to the shape of mold and were placed horizontally along its height at various distances from the casting base. The plate castings of CMSX-4 superalloy were fabricated without and with the use of IRBs, withdrawing the mold at the rate of 6 mm/min from the heating to the cooling area of the industrial Bridgman furnace. Thermal analysis of the directional solidification of castings was carried out using the ProCAST software for a process where the various designs of the radiation baffle were applied. The results of the solidification conditions, the shape of liquidus and solidus isotherms, and grain structure obtained for the IRBs were compared with those reached for the standard ring-shaped (AERB) or perfectly adjusted (PARB) radiation baffles. The use of IRB resulted in flattening of the temperature distribution and decrease of the curvature of liquidus and solidus isotherms, as well as an increase of temperature gradient and cooling rate, compared with the process where AERB was only used. Consequently, primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS) reached similar values across the width of casting and equaled to approximately 370 μm, reducing its average value by 26%, compared with the standard process. The change in predicted axial temperature gradient in casting was not found when thermophysical properties of molybdenum IRBs were used. The increase in graphite IRBs number in mold from seven to 14 caused the reduction of inhomogeneity of axial temperature gradient along the casting height.

Numerical Analysis of the Dislocation Density in Multicrystalline Silicon for Solar Cells by the Vertical Bridgman Process

We studied the effects of cooling process on the generation of dislocations in multicrystalline silicon grown by the vertical Bridgman process. From the temperature field obtained by a global model, the stress relaxation and multiplication of dislocations were calculated using the Haasen-Alexander-Sumino model. It was found that the multiplication of dislocations is higher in fast cooling processes. It was confirmed that residual stress is low at high temperatures because the movement of the dislocations relaxes the thermal strain, while the residual stress increases with decreasing temperature, because of reduced motion of dislocations and formation of a strain field at lower temperatures.