Improved Hardness and Thermal Stability of Nanocrystalline Nickel Electrodeposited with the Addition of Cysteine

Experiments were conducted for the study of the effect of cysteine addition on the microstructure of nanocrystalline Ni films electrodeposited from a nickel sulfate-based bath. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the nanostructure of Ni layers processed with cysteine addition was also investigated. It was found that with increasing cysteine content in the bath, the grain size decreased, while the dislocation density and the twin fault probability increased. Simultaneously, the hardness increased due to cysteine addition through various effects. Saturation in the microstructure and hardness was achieved at cysteine contents of 0.3–0.4 g/L. Moreover, the texture changed from (220) to (200) with increasing the concentration of cysteine. The hardness of the Ni films processed with the addition of 0.4 g/L cysteine (∼6800 MPa) was higher than the values obtained for other additives in the literature (<6000 MPa). This hardness was further enhanced to ∼8400 MPa when the Ni film was heated up to 500 K. It was revealed that the hardness remained as high as 6000 MPa even after heating up to 750 K, while for other additives, the hardness decreased below 3000 MPa at the same temperature.

Deformation effects on transgranular carbide precipitation in 304 stainless steels

Plastic deformation is a key variable producing accelerated intergranular (IG) carbide precipitation and chromium-depletion (sensitization) development in stainless steels. Deformation above 20% also produces transgranular (TG) carbides and depletion in the material. Research on TG carbides in SS is, however, limited and has indicated that the precipitation is site-specific preferring twin-fault intersections in 316 SS versus deformation-induced martensite and martensite lath-boundaries in 304 SS. Evidences indicating the relation between martensite and carbides were, however, sketchy.The objective of this work was to fundamentally understand the relationship between TG carbides and strain-induced martensite in 304 SS. Since strain-induced martensite forms at twin-fault intersections in 304 SS and the crystallography of the transformation is well understood, we believed that it could be key in understanding mechanisms of carbides and sensitization in SS. A 0.051% C, 304 SS deformed to ∽33% engineering strain (40% true strain) and heat treated at 670°C/ 0.1-10h was used for the research. The study was carried out on a Hitachi H-8000 STEM at 200 kV.

On the Propagation of Twin-Fault-Induced Stress in Platelet Fau-Framework Zeolites

A model describing the propagation of a rhombohedral distortion in platelet CSZ–1 zeolites is presented. It is proposed that internal stress gradients grown into CSZ–1 platelets at synthesis are responsible for this distortion of the cubic FAU framework, where the spacings of 111 planes parallel to the platelet surfaces are elongated relative to the {111} planes. The presence of inhomogeneities is suggested by the presence of thin bands of twin faults which are invariably observed near the central layers of each platelet. Elastic modelling confirms that the effects of any stress associated with such twin faults will be most pronounced in the thinnest platelets, where the effects of elastic relaxation are minimal, and where the width of the fault zone relative to the platelet thickness is maximal. Platelet CSZ–3 and Y-type zeolites, which are considerably thicker, are therefore not expected to show significant rhombohedral distortion despite the presence of similar twin fault bands.

A Tem Study of Low Temperature Shock Induced α'-Martensite in 304 Stainless Steel

A number of investigations have established that α'- martensite will form in shock-loaded 304 stainless steel at ambient temperature. The α'- martensite resulting from shock events above -195°C form at twin-fault or shear band intersections producing strain-induced α'- martensite morphologies. How ever, very little experimental work has been done at low tempertures (down to -268°C). In this present study we demonstrate that shock-loaded 304 stainless steel transforms by different mechanism at very low temperature. That is to say a “stress-assisted” nucleation, or different types of strain-induced mechanism.

X-Ray Studies of Plastically Deformed Silver Alloys - Effects Due to Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Tin Solutes*

Solid specimens of silver were charged at different temperatures in atmospheres of oxygen and of hydrogen. X-ray diffraction line profiles were obtained using powders filed from the treated specimens. Fourier analysis of the diffraction lines was conducted following the method of Warren. The effective particle sizes and root-mean-square strains were obtained from the line shape analysis. Stacking fault and twin fault probabilities were determined from peak-position and center-of gravity displacements, respectively. For the purpose of comparison, two vacuum-melted silver samples and two different silver-tin alloys were studied. The stacking fault and twin fault probabilities were observed to be nearly unaffected by charging in either oxygen or hydrogen. These results are consistent with recent direct determinations of the effect of oxygen on the stacking fault energy of silver. In contrast, the rms strains and particle sizes changed significantly after charging in oxygen. A decrease in the root-mean-square strain and a corresponding increase in the particle size was found. These effects were opposite to those obtained by adding substitutional solute to silver. These findings are interpreted to indicate the effect of oxygen clustered with impurities on the dislocations and stacking faults in silver.