Investigation of the Electrochemical Breakdown Response in Sensitised AA5083 Aluminium Alloy

The light-weight aluminium alloys play an important role in reducing emissions from the transport industry. However, to take full advantage of these, the corrosion mechanisms that govern their failure need to be properly understood. Hence, the electrochemical response, especially after passive film breakdown, of the aluminium alloy AA5083 was analysed via potentiodynamic polarisation. By starting the scans at the relatively negative potential of −1.4 V (vs. SCE), the reduction of water in the electrolyte causes a localised increase in pH, leading to a preferential attack on the susceptible regions in the (sensitised) microstructure; that is, the deleterious β-Al3Mg2 along the grain boundaries. Subsequently, in the later stages of the potentiodynamic scan, these regions that have been degraded by the dissolution of β-Al3Mg2 undergo imperfect repassivation, leading them to be vulnerable to localised breakdowns. These conditions allowed for the discovery of a discernible trend after breakdown, in which AA5083 microstructures with a more extensive β-Al3Mg2 region (both in size and in amount) recorded a more rapid increase in the measured current density. In particular, the potential at which the anodic current density reached 1 × 10−4 A cm−2 was correlated with the extent of β-Al3Mg2 formed during isothermal heat-treatments. This work provides a possible pathway towards the development of an electrochemical quantification technique for the extent of β-Al3Mg2 growth, degree of sensitisation, and, ultimately, the intergranular corrosion (IGC) susceptibility of the microstructure of AA5083 components used in industrial applications.

Measurement of the Elastic Modulus and Residual Stress of Thermal Barrier Coatings Using a Digital Image Correlation Technique

This paper presents an experimental study on simultaneously measuring the elastic modulus and residual stress of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) after different isothermal heat treatments. The elastic modulus and residual stress of TBCs were theoretically analyzed based on composite beam bending theory. Thereafter, an experimental setup was established combining the 3D digital image correlation method with the bending test to obtain the curvature changes in the TBC sample. Finally, the elastic modulus and residual stress of the ceramic layer with different isothermal heat treatments were obtained. The results show that the elastic modulus of the ceramic layer measured under compression is greater than that under tension, and the elastic modulus of the ceramic layer increases first and then tends to be stable as the heat treatment time increases. In addition, the residual stress of the TBCs ceramic layer quickly changes from compressive stress to tensile stress with heat treatment, and the tensile stress increases with the increase in thermal exposure time. Furthermore, the reasons for the change tendency were analyzed according to the variation in porosity and microstructures by processing the scanning electron microscope (SEM) figures. The results demonstrate that simultaneously determining the elastic modulus and residual stress of TBC based on combining the 3D digital image correlation method with the bending test is effective and reliable.

Effect of PWHT on Laser-Welded Duplex Stainless Steel

The welded joints of duplex stainless steels (DSSs) have been widely used in petrochemical, nuclear, pulp, and paper industries. Welds require a good, superficial finishing and a combination of mechanical and corrosion properties in these types of high-quality, demanding applications. Even though laser welding promotes narrow weld beads and a small heat-affected zone, when it is applied to DSSs, it can produce dangerous microstructural discontinuities. In this context, the effects of subsequent heat treatments on the microstructure, corrosion resistance, microhardness, and tensile proper-ties of DSS laser-welded joints are investigated. In this study, samples of UNS S32304 DSS were submitted to two different conditions of laser welding. Subsequently, the plates submitted to the best welding condition were subjected to isothermal heat treatments at different temperatures (850°, 950°, 1050°, and 1150°C) for 10 min. Then they were microstructurally characterized. Phase fraction measurements and microhardness tests were performed. Based on the obtained results, postweld heat-treated samples at 1150°C, which is the best condition, were subjected to corrosion and tensile tests. It was possible to conclude the corrosion prop-erties of the welded joint were significantly improved after the heat treatment. However, the mechanical behavior was strongly influenced by the presence of volumetric discontinuities and intermetallic compounds, which considerably deteriorated the mechanical strength of the material.

A Comparison of the Ballistic Performances of Various Microstructures in MIL-A-12560 Armor Steel

Due to their advantageous properties, there is a growing interest in developing armor steels containing fully or partially bainitic microstructures. In this study, bainitic and martensitic microstructures were obtained in rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) steel samples and their ballistic protection performances were investigated. RHA (MIL-A-12560) steel samples were subjected to isothermal heat treatments at three different temperatures, where one temperature (360 °C) was above the martensite formation start (Ms) temperature of 336 °C while the other two (320 °C and 270 °C) were below. For the assessment of the ballistic protection performance, the kinetic energy losses of the 12.7 mm bullets fired at the test samples were determined. The promising nature of the bainite microstructure was confirmed as the sample isothermally treated at 360 °C provided approximately 10% higher ballistic protection as compared to the regular RHA sample of tempered martensite microstructure. However, the ballistic performances of the isothermally treated samples decreased as the treatment temperature went below the Ms temperature. Following the ballistic tests, hardness measurements, impact tests at −40 °C, and macro- and microstructural examinations of the samples were performed. No correlation was found between the hardness and impact energies of the samples and their ballistic performances.

Investigation of the effect of isothermal heat treatments on mechanical properties of thermo-mechanically rolled S700MC steel grade

The effect of isothermal heat treatments (1 hour at 200, 400, 600 and 800°C) on mechanical properties of thermo-mechanically rolled S700MC steel has been investigated by extensive mechanical characterizations. Treatments at 600°C increase yield and tensile strength and decrease impact energy. Below 600°C the steel retains its bainitic structure. Precipitation kinetics simulations indicate that this secondary hardening effect arises from the nucleation of fine (Nb,Ti)C particles, indicating that the bainitic structure is unstable above 600°C due to its high supersaturation with respect to C, Nb and Ti. These results can help to optimize the operating practices for post-weld heat treatments.

Effect of cooling profile on crystalline phases, oxidation state, and chemical partitioning of complex glasses

Investigations of the crystallization of aluminosilicate phases within Hanford nuclear waste glasses typically involve subjecting samples to the canister centerline cooling (CCC) schedule. This cooling schedule is representative of the slowest cooling thermal profile which these glasses will experience after the glass is poured into the high level waste (HLW) container. However, few investigations have observed how the crystallization behavior changes by varying the heat treatment schedule. In the present study, three Hanford HLW glasses are subjected to CCC and isothermal heat treatments (IHT) to better understand the evolution of phases and the chemical partitioning due to temperature schedule. Samples were characterized using electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, micro X-ray fluorescence, and micro X-ray absorption spectroscopy. From IHT, eucryptite and apatite phases were observed which were not observed during CCC. Spatially-resolved measurements demonstrated that the oxidation state of the iron was similar among glass and crystal, and we suggest a mechanism to describe the compositional fluctuations near the crystal-glass interface which influence crystallization.

Influence of thermal annealing on structural properties of silica aerogel super insulation material

Nowadays, aerogel materials are some of the lightest thermal insulation materials available on the construction market; they are produced by the mixing of polymers with solvents since they create a gel. Insulated fibrous-enhanced forms are the most frequently used ones. The type, which is used for thermal insulation, is usually produced by mixing the glass fiber net with the liquid–solid solution. The present paper talks about the structural modifications caused by heat treatment of the aerogel-reinforced with fiberglass. The aerogel probes were subjected to thermal annealing, and once they got isothermal heat treatments for weeks at 70 °C, moreover, untreated samples were subjected to stepwise thermal treatments between 100 and 250 °C for 1 day. Both the heat treatments were executed in dryer equipment under atmospheric air. Changes both in the structure and in chemical bonds of the untreated and annealed samples were followed. Raman spectra have been obtained for the samples. The structural changes have an influence on the studied material as well as in thermal properties. The structural and thermal properties were put under investigation after executing heat treatments on them. Jumps in the thermal conductivity could be connected with some structural changes. Due to the annealing intensity of the peaks connected with Si–O, crystalline SiO is increased, while CH, CH2, CH3, –OH and others are decreased.

Effects of the Heat Treatment in the Properties of Fibrous Aerogel Thermal Insulation

Nowadays, besides the use of conventional insulations (plastic foams and wool materials), aerogels are one of the most promising thermal insulation materials. As one of the lightest solid materials available today, aerogels are manufactured through the combination of a polymer with a solvent, forming a gel. For buildings, the fiber-reinforced types are mainly used. In this paper, the changes both in the thermal performance and the material structure of the aerogel blanket are followed after thermal annealing. The samples are put under isothermal heat treatments at 70 °C for weeks, as well as at higher temperatures (up to 210 °C) for one day. The changes in the sorption properties that result from the annealing are presented. Furthermore, the changes in the thermal conductivity are followed by a Holometrix Lambda heat flow meter. The changes in the structure and surface of the material due to the heat treatment are investigated by X-ray diffraction and with scanning electron microscopy. Besides, the above-mentioned measurement results of differential scanning calorimetry experiments are also presented. As a result of using equipment from different laboratories that support each other, we found that the samples go through structural changes after undergoing thermal annealing. We manifested that the aerogel granules separate down from the glass fibers and grow up. This phenomenon might be responsible for the change in the thermal conductivity of the samples.

Thermal characterization of fibrous aerogel blanket

Nowadays, the application of thermal insulation materials both by the existing and by new buildings is one of the most important actions in order to reduce the energy loss of buildings. Besides the use of the conventional insulations (plastic foams and wool materials) aerogel is one of the most promising thermal insulation material. Aerogels, one of the lightest solid materials available today, are manufactured through the combination of a polymer with a solvent forming a gel. For buildings the fibre reinforced ones are the mainly used types. It is produced by adding the liquid-solid solution to the fibrous batting. In this paper changes in the thermal performance of the aerogel blanket will be followed after thermal annealing. The samples will be put under isothermal heat treatments at 70 °C for 6 weeks, as well as they will be put under thermal treatment at higher temperatures (from 70 °C till 210 °C) for 1 day. The changes in the thermal conductivity will be followed by Holometrix Lambda heat flow meter, as well as, Differential Scanning Calorimetry results will be presented. From the measured values, thermal properties will be calculated. In this paper we will try to clarify the role played by thermal annealing in thermal diffusivity.

Precipitation Kinetics of AA6082: An Experimental and Numerical Investigation

The development of simulation tools for bridging different scales are essential for understanding complex joining processes. For precipitation hardening, the Kampmann-Wagner numerical model (KWN) is an important method to account for non-isothermal second phase precipitation. This model allows to describe nucleation, growth and coarsening of precipitation hardened aluminum alloys based on a size distribution for every phase which produces precipitations. In particular, this work investigates the performance of a KWN model by [1-3] for Al-Mg-Si-alloys. The model is compared against experimental data from isothermal heat treatments taken partially from [2]. Additionally, the model is used for investigation of the precipitation kinetics for a laser beam welding process, illustrating the time-dependent development of the different parameters related to the precipitation kinetics and the resulting yield strength.