Nanoindentation Response of Ion-Irradiated Fe, Fe-Cr Alloys and Ferritic-Martensitic Steel Eurofer 97: The Effect of Ion Energy

Nanoindentation of ion-irradiated nuclear structural materials and model alloys has received considerable interest in the published literature. In the reported studies, the materials were typically exposed to irradiations using a single ion energy varying from study to study from below 1 MeV to above 10 MeV. However, systematic investigations into the effect of self-ion energy are still insufficient, meaning that the possibilities to gain insight from systematic energy variations are not yet exhausted. We have exposed pure Fe, ferritic Fe-9Cr, martensitic Fe-9Cr and the ferritic-martensitic reduced-activation steel Eurofer 97 to ion irradiations at 300°C using 1, 2 and 5 MeV Fe2+ ions as well as 8 MeV Fe3+ ions and applied nanoindentation, using a Berkovich diamond indenter, to characterize as-irradiated samples and unirradiated references. The effect of the ion energy on the measured nanoindentation response is discussed for each material. Two versions of a primary-damage-informed model are applied to fit the measured irradiation-induced hardening. The models are critically compared with the experimental results also taking into account reported microstructural evidence. Related ion-neutron transferability issues are addressed.

Plasma nitriding in complex post-processing of stainless steel parts obtained by additive laser technology

Considered are the prospects of applying complex post-processing for an additive manufactured product with the deposition of a multilayer composite coating [Ti0.2C0.8/a-C]40 at the final stage. It is shown that heat treatment, finish milling, ion-plasma nitriding and burnishing with a sliding diamond indenter of a PH1 steel part obtained by selective laser melting (SLM) before deposition of a thin-film coating provides the coating with a minimum surface roughness Ra = 82-86 nm and a maximum hardness of 25.2 ± 1.4 GPa with an increase in the microhardness of the entire “coating-substrate” system.

Influence of mechanical deflector assisted electroless nickel deposits for wear resistance

This investigation reports the effect of mechanical deflector during coating on the mechanical properties of the Electroless Ni-P deposits. Micro hardness of the electroless Ni-P deposits was measured using shimadzu micro hardness measuring unit employing a diamond indenter and pin-on-disc wear tester was used to measure the wear resistance of the deposits. The characteristics of deposits produced in presence of mechanical deflector are found to be superior from those produced using conventional deposition techniques. Enhancement in properties are correlated with modified crystallinity and the conversion of Ni-P in to possible phosphides in the presence of mechanical deflector. It has been noticed that the coating efficiency has 30% hike with mechanical deflector. Annealing at 350ºC has reached the maximum hardness of 950 Hv and subsequent increase in wear resistance.

Microstructure and Properties of TiB2 Composites Produced by Spark Plasma Sintering with the Addition of Ti5Si3

Titanium diboride (TiB2) is a hard, refractory material, attractive for a number of applications, including wear-resistant machine parts and tools, but it is difficult to densify. The spark plasma sintering (SPS) method allows producing TiB2-based composites of high density with different sintering aids, among them titanium silicides. In this paper, Ti5Si3 is used as a sintering aid for the sintering of TiB2/10 wt % Ti5Si3 and TiB2/20 wt % Ti5Si3 composites at 1600 °C and 1700 °C for 10 min. The phase composition of the initial powders and produced composites was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction method using CuKα radiation. The microstructure was examined using scanning electron microscopy, accompanied by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The hardness was determined using a diamond indenter of Vickers geometry loaded at 9.81 N. Friction–wear properties were tested in the dry sliding test in a ball-on-disc configuration, using WC as a counterpart material. The major phases present in the TiB2/Ti5Si3 composites were TiB2 and Ti5Si3. Traces of TiC were also identified. The hardness of the TiB2/Ti5Si3 composites was in the range of 1860–2056 HV1 and decreased with Ti5Si3 content, as well as the specific wear rate Wv. The coefficient of friction for the composites was in the range of 0.5–0.54, almost the same as for TiB2 sinters. The main mechanism of wear was abrasive.

CCM pilot study overview: geometrical measurement of the Rockwell diamond indenter

This paper describes an overview of the capability of the NMIs that participated on the CCM Pilot Study measurement systems, conducted by the CIPM/CCM/Working Group on Hardness, to characterize the Rockwell hardness diamond indenter geometry, by measuring the included cone angle, the straightness of the generatrix, the spherical tip radius, the deviation of the local radius and the tilt angle. <br />Nine NMIs took part in this study: INMETRO (Brazil); INRiM (Italy); KRISS (South Korea); NIM/PR (China); NIMT (Thailand); NIST (USA); PTB (Germany); TUBITAK UME (Turkey); VNIIFTRI (Russia), where INMETRO (Brazil) served as pilot laboratory.

Nanomechanical Characterization of Iron Borides in Fe-Mn-B Ternary Alloys

Nanomechanical properties of iron borides, FeB and Fe2B were studied in Fe-Mn-B ternary alloys. The alloys were produced by arc melting method using high purity powders, which were subsequently annealed at temperature of 873 K and 1223 K, until fully equilibrated for a time period of 2160 hours and 1440 hours, respectively. Based on results obtained from experimental study and thermodynamic modeling of Fe-Mn-B system the solubility of Mn in these borides was determined. For the purpose of this study the influence of heat treatment temperature, as well as, the solubility of Mn in these borides on their nanomechanical properties is investigated. Nanomechanical properties, including determination of indentation modulus and hardness were measured using nanoindentation testing machine equipped with Berkovich type diamond indenter. The indentation process was carried out using an indentation depth controlled method, to a maximum depth of 500 nm.