Growth of 6Li-enriched LiCl/BaCl2 eutectic as a novel neutron scintillator

In this study, Eu:6LiCl/BaCl2 with a high Li concentration was developed as a novel thermal neutron scintillator. Eu ions were doped as activators for the BaCl2 phase, and Eu:6LiCl/BaCl2 eutectics were grown via the vertical Bridgman–Stockbarger method in quartz ampoules (inner diameter = 4 mm). The Eu:6LiCl/BaCl2 eutectic exhibited a lamellar eutectic structure and optical transparency. The 400-nm emission due to the Eu2+ 4f–5d transition was observed in the BaCl2 phase by a cathode luminescence measurement. The light yield under neutrons was estimated to be over 20,200 photons/MeV. A pulse shape discrimination study was also performed using gamma and alpha-rays. The Eu:6LiCl/BaCl2 eutectic scintillator showed good potential of pulse shape discrimination.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine Quaternary Al-Cu-Si-Mg Eutectic Alloy

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of quaternary Al-Cu-Si-Mg eutectic alloy prepared via arc melting and suction casting were studied. This alloy exhibits a single endothermic DSC peak with a melting temperature of 509 °C upon heating, suggesting a eutectic reaction. The cast alloy microstructure consisted of four phases, α-Al, Al2Cu (), Si and Al4Cu2Mg8Si7 (Q), in the eutectic cells and also in the nano-scale anomalous eutectic in the intercellular regions. The eutectic cells show different morphologies in different parts of the sample. Well-defined orientation relationships between the α-Al, Al2Cu, and Q phases were found in the eutectic cell centres, while decoupled growth of Q phase occurred at the cell boundaries. The bimodal microstructure exhibits excellent compressive mechanical properties, including a yield strength of 835 ± 35 MPa, a fracture strength of ~1 GPa and a compressive fracture strain of 4.7 ± 1.1%. The high strength is attributed to a combination of a refined eutectic structure and strengthening from multiple hard phases.

Mechanical Stress Effects on 550 °C Hot Corrosion Propagation Rates in Precipitation Hardened Ni-Base Superalloys: CMSX-4, CM247LC DS and IN6203DS

Combinations of temperature, stress and hot corrosion may cause environmentally-assisted cracking in precipitation-hardened Ni-base superalloys, which is little understood. This research aims to increase current understanding by investigating the effects of mechanical stress on the hot corrosion propagation rate during corrosion-fatigue testing of CMSX-4, CM247LC DS and IN6203DS. The parameters used during the tests included a high R-ratio, high frequency, and a temperature of 550 °C. The results showed CMSX-4 experienced a predictable increase in the hot corrosion rate, CM247LC DS also experienced increased rates, but no obvious trend was apparent; whilst IN6203DS showed no evidence of an increased rate. These different behaviours appear to be a result of an interaction between the mechanical stress and microstructural features, which include gamma-prime volume fractions in both the matrix and eutectic regions, along with the distribution of the eutectic structure. The different behaviours in the hot corrosion propagation rate subsequently affected the respective corrosion fatigue results, with both CMSX-4 and CM247LC DS experiencing fracture but with significantly more scatter involved in the CM247LC DS results. All IN6203DS corrosion-fatigue specimens completed the respective tests without fracture and showed no evidence of cracking. It, therefore, appears that precipitation hardened Ni-base superalloys, which are susceptible to environmentally-assisted cracking, also experience increased hot corrosion propagation rates.

Growth and scintillation properties of LiBr/CeBr3 eutectic scintillator for neutron detection

The 6LiBr/CeBr3 eutectic scintillator for thermal neutron detection has been developed due to achieving high 6Li concentration. The eutectics were grown by vertical Bridgman method. Molar ratio of 6Li in 6LiBr/CeBr3 eutectic is 35 %, which is higher than that of commercial neutron scintillators such Ce:LiCaAlF6 and Ce:Cs2LiYCl6. The grown eutectic had lamellar-type eutectic structure extending along the growth direction and optical transparency. The grown eutectics showed an emission peak at 360 and 380 nm ascribed to Ce3+ 4f-5d transition from CeBr3 scintillation phase. The measurements of scintillation performance of the 6LiBr/CeBr3 were performed using x-ray, gamma-ray and neutron irradiation to evaluate its potential as a neutron scintillator.

Brazing of Porous Copper Foam with Copper Sheet Using CuNiSnP Amorphous Filler Metal

This research studies effects of the brazing time on interfacial microstructure of brazed joint between the porous copper foam (PCF) and Cu substrate using CuNiSnP amorphous filler metal. To examine the interfacial microstructure and its properties, an assessment of PCF/CuNiSnP/Cu brazed joints was conducted after electric furnace brazing under hydrogen (H2) atmosphere. The results showed that the interfacial microstructure was thick for short brazing time specimens and thin for prolonged brazing time specimens. The interfacial microstructures consisted of Cu-rich solid solution, (Cu, Ni)3P, and Cu3P as a eutectic structure discovered in the brazing region at different brazing times of 5, 10, and 20 min. Only the Cu-rich solid solution and (Cu, Ni)3P were found in the specimen with brazing time of 30 min. indicating that different brazing times affected interfacial microstructures and therefore reliability of the brazed joints.

Microstructural Master Alloys Features of Aluminum–Erbium System

Aluminum master alloys with rare earth metals are widely studied by many scientists around the world, but research on the production of Al-Er master alloys is still limited. The purpose of this work is to study the microstructure parameters of aluminum-erbium master alloys obtained by metallothermic reduction of salt mixtures containing erbium oxide or fluoride. The structural features were investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy, and the dependence of the microhardness of the eutectic and solid solution fields of obtained master alloys on the content of erbium in the master alloy was determined. Studies have shown that master alloys obtained by metallothermic reduction of erbium compounds from chloride–fluoride melts are characterized by a uniform distribution of Al3Er intermetallic compounds in the volume of double eutectic [(Al) + Al3Er] and have a strong grain refinement effect. The analysis of the microstructure showed that the structure of the master alloys varies depending on the content of erbium. When the content of erbium in the master alloy is up to 6 wt.%, the eutectic structure is preserved. When the content of erbium in the master alloy is 8 wt.% or more, the structure becomes a solid solution with individual inclusions of various shapes and intermetallic compounds.

Corrosion Behavior of Cr19Fe22Co21Ni25Mo13 Alloy in 1M Nitric Acid and 1M Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

The present work studied the microstructures of Cr19Fe22Co21Ni25Mo13 alloy, and tested the polarization properties in deaerated 1M nitric acid and 1M hydrochloric solutions at different temperatures. The alloy was processed by an argon atmosphere arc-melting. Results indicated that the microstructure of Cr19Fe22Co21Ni25Mo13 alloy was a dendritic one. The dendrites of Cr19Fe22Co21Ni25Mo13 alloy were an FCC structure, and the interdendrites of Cr19Fe22Co21Ni25Mo13 alloy were a eutectic structure with two phases of FCC and simple cubic (SC). The Cr19Fe22Co21Ni25Mo13 alloy had better corrosion resistance compared with commercial 304 stainless steel in both deaerated 1M HNO3 and 1M HCl solutions. The corrosion types of Cr19Fe22Co21Ni25Mo13 alloy in both of 1M HNO3 and 1M HCl solutions were uniform corrosion.

Microstructural Evolution and Tensile Testing of a Bi–Sn (57/43) Alloy Processed by Tube High-Pressure Shearing

Tube high-pressure shearing (t-HPS) processing was performed on a eutectic Bi–Sn (57/43) alloy for 0.25, 1, 5 and 20 turns. The selected samples were stored at room temperature for up to 56 days to examine the strain weakening and self-annealing behavior of the alloy. The results showed that t-HPS processing gradually refined the microstructure and led to decreasing of microhardness, but microhardness increased slowly during the subsequent storage at room temperature. Shear localization of the eutectic structure during t-HPS processing was observed as large amounts of narrow dense lamellar zones were visible in the deformed microstructures. The Bi–Sn (57/43) alloy processed by t-HPS exhibited significantly enhanced superplastic properties with elongations up to >1800% in a sample after t-HPS processing for 20 turns. This high elongation is attributed to the breaking of the lamellar structure and the very small grain size.

Laser Cladding of Ni-Co-W Composite Coating on Stainless Steel to Enhance Wear Resistance

Ni-Co-W composite coatings modified by different contents of Co-based alloy powder in the Ni-based alloy with 35 wt.% WC (Ni35WC) were deposited on stainless steel by laser cladding. The influence of compositional and microstructural modification on the wear properties has been comparatively investigated by XRD, SEM, and EDS techniques. It was found that the austenite dendrites in the modified coating adding 50 wt.% Co-based alloy were refined and a lot of Cr23C6 or M23(C, B)6 compounds with fine lamellar feature were formed around austenitic grain boundaries or in the intergranular regions. The contribution of element Co to the modification of Ni35WC coating is that it cannot only promote the formation of more hard compounds to refine austenite grains, but also refine the size of precipitates, and change the phase type of eutectic structure as a result of disappeared Cr boride brittle phases. A noticeable improvement in wear resistance is obtained in the Ni35WC coating with 50 wt.% Co-based alloy, which makes the wear rate decreased by about 53 % and 30% by comparison to that of the substrate and the Ni35WC coating, respectively. It is suggested that the improvement is closely related to the composite coating being strengthened owing to the increase of coating hardness, formation of a fine-grained microstructure caused by Co, and fine hard precipitate phases in the eutectic structure.