Development of Unidirectional Cellular Structure with Multiple Pipe Layers and Characterisation of Its Mechanical Properties

This study is concerned with the development of a new unidirectional cellular (UniPore) copper structure with multiple concentric pipe layers. The investigated UniPore structures were grouped into three main types, each having a different number of pipes (3, 4, and 5 pipes per transversal cross-section) and different pore arrangements. The specimens were fabricated by explosive compaction to achieve tightly compacted structures with a quasi-constant cross-section along the length of the specimens. The bonding between copper pipes was observed by a metallographic investigation, which showed that the pipes and bars were compressed tightly without voids. However, they were not welded together. The mechanical properties were determined by quasi-static compressive testing, where the typical behaviour for cellular materials was noted. The study showed that porosity significantly influences the mechanical properties, even more so than the arrangement of the pipes.

Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Rolled Aluminium Unidirectional Cellular Structure

The paper focuses on the fabrication of novel aluminium cellular structures and their metallographic and mechanical characterisation. The aluminium UniPore specimens have been manufactured by rolling a thin aluminium foil with acrylic spacers for the first time. The novel approach allows for the cheaper and faster fabrication of the UniPore specimens and improved welding conditions since a lack of a continuous wavy interface was observed in the previous fabrication process. The rolled assembly was subjected to explosive compaction, which resulted in a unidirectional aluminium cellular structure with longitudinal pores as the result of the explosive welding mechanism. The metallographic analysis confirmed a strong bonding between the foil surfaces. The results of the quasi-static and dynamic compressive tests showed stress–strain behaviour, which is typical for cellular metals. No strain-rate sensitivity could be observed in dynamic testing at moderate loading velocities. The fabrication process and the influencing parameters have been further studied by using the computational simulations, revealing that the foil thickness has a dominant influence on the final specimen geometry.

Investigation of the Structure and Distribution of Chemical Elements between the Phases of Hard Alloys of the Cr3C2-Ti System, Obtained at Various Modes of Explosive Compaction

The Article presents the findings of the studies of the microstructure, chemical and phase composition of the Cr3C2-Ti system alloys obtained by the explosion. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive and x-ray diffraction analyses were used. The program Thermo-Calc software was used to calculate the equilibrium phases. The phase composition of the compact was shown to fully correspond to that of the initial powder mixture during explosive pressing in the modes of heating from 300 ̊С to 600 ̊С. When heated above 600 ̊С, the chemical interaction of the initial components begins with the formation of new boundary phases. Meanwhile, there is a change in the sample destruction nature and a significant increase in hardness, which points to the hard alloy consolidation. The increase in the powder mixture heating in shock waves to 1000 ̊С leads to intensive macrochemical interaction of the powder mixture components and to formation of an equilibrium phase composition. The established temperature limits determine the most appropriate parameters of shock-wave loading when producing hard alloys by explosive pressing.