CHARACTERIZATION OF VC–VB PARTICLES REINFORCED FE-BASED COMPOSITE COATINGS PRODUCED BY LASER CLADDING

In situ synthesized VC–VB particles reinforced Fe-based composite coatings were produced by laser beam melting mixture of ferrovanadium (Fe–V) alloy, boron carbide (B4C), CaF2 and Fe-based self-melting powders. The results showed that VB particles with black regular and irregular blocky shape and VC with black flower-like shape were uniformly distributed in the coatings. The type, amount, and size of the reinforcements were influenced by the content of FeV[Formula: see text]40 and B4C powders. Compared to the substrate, the hardness and wear resistance of the composite coatings were greatly improved.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Flower Pigments in Chocolate Cosmos, Cosmos Atrosanguineus, and its Hybrids

Two major anthocyanins, cyanidin 3- O-glucoside and 3- O-rutinoside, were isolated from the black flowers of Cosmos atrosanguineus cultivar ‘Choco Mocha’, together with three minor anthocyanins, cyanidin 3- O-malonylglucoside, pelargonidin 3- O-glucoside and 3- O-rutinoside. A chalcone, butein 4′- O-glucoside and three minor flavanones were isolated from the red flowers of C. atrosanguineus x C. sulphureus cultivar ‘Rouge Rouge'. The anthocyanins and chalcone accumulation of cultivar ‘Choco Mocha’ and its hybrid cultivars ‘Brown Rouge’, ‘Forte Rouge’, ‘Rouge Rouge’ and ‘Noel Rouge’ was surveyed by quantitative HPLC. Total anthocyanins of black flower cultivars ‘Choco Mocha’ and ‘Brown Rouge’ were 3-4-folds higher than that of the red flower cultivar ‘Noel Rouge'. On the other hand, total chalcone of ‘Noel Rouge’ was 10–77-folds higher compared with those of other cultivars, ‘Brown Rouge’, ‘Forte Rouge’ and ‘Rouge Rouge'. It was shown that the flower color variations from red to black of Chocolate Cosmos and its hybrids are due to the difference in the relative amounts of anthocyanins and chalcone.