Effect of brazing temperatures on microstructure and properties of TC4/Ti57Zr13Cu21Ni9/316L

Titanium alloy is an important metal material with excellent specific strength, which is widely used in aerospace field, nuclear industry, chemical medicine, and military industry. In order to investigate the connection conditions of TC4 titanium alloy and 316L stainless steel at different temperatures, the braze welding measurement with Ti57Zr13Cu21Ni9 filler metal was conducted in vacuum. The microstructure, morphology and phase of the joint were characterized by SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometer) and XRD (X-ray diffraction), respectively. Microhardness and shear strength of the joint at room temperature and the bonding mechanism of TC4 and 316L were also investigated. The obtained results revealed that the main phases in the diffusion layer were Ti-based solid solution and Ti-Fe (TiFe and TiFe2) intermetallic compoundsands (IMCs) the center of the braze was mainly composed of Ti-Fe IMCs, (Ti, Zr)2(Ni, Cu), Ti-based solid solution. Additionally, the increase of brazing temperature firstly increased and then decreased the average shear strength with the maximum value of 133.9 MPa at 960 °C.

Alkaline refining of crude lead: a method of arsenic removal and the behavior of arsenic in the process

In this work, the alkaline refining of arsenic in crude lead was studied with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate as alkaline refining agents. Taking the arsenic removal rate as the research object, the effects of reaction temperature, holding time, Na2CO3:NaOH, the dosage of refining agent were investigated. The arsenic removal rate is 79.09% under the optimum experimental conditions as follows: reaction temperature 823 K, holding time 60 min, Na2CO3:NaOH 1:4, refining agent dosage 10%. The oxidation purification mechanism of arsenic was studied by XPS, SEM-EDS, XRD and FT-IR. The results show that arsenic in the crude lead is gradually oxidized by oxygen and lead oxide during arsenic removal process, and the arsenic trioxide is eventually converted into sodium arsenate (Na3AsO4) and lead arsenate (Pb2As2O7) in the slag.

A simplified mathematical model for total temperature rise calculation in non-oriented silicon steel cold rolling deformation zone

In tandem cold rolling, the control of the temperature of high-grade non-oriented silicon steel is a difficult problem for its large deformation resistance and the preheating procedure before rolling. And it is complicated to calculate the total temperature rise of rolling deformation zone due to the comprehensive influence of the plastic deformation heat, the friction heat and the contact heat loss. So, to precisely calculate the total temperature rise, firstly, based on the four classical cold rolling force formulas, the initial total temperature rise calculation models are established correspondingly by theoretically analyzing the temperature rise of deformation heat, the temperature rise of friction heat and the temperature drop of contact heat loss; then, the model based on the improved Lian rolling force formula is adopted, which leads to calculated best matching the measured temperature; finally, considering the complex formula calculation of the initial model, based on the influences of different rolling parameters on the total temperature rise, a simplified model for convenient calculation is proposed by the nonlinear regression analysis of the initial model calculation results and main rolling parameters, which is convenient for the actual application by the field technicians.

Interfacial reactions between impurities and slag onset of Si purification by slag addition

The interfacial reactions between impurities (Al and Ti) and slag onset of Si purification by 51 mol% SiO2–34 mol% CaO–15 mol% MgO slag addition were studied to enhance impurity removal efficiency from Si. The Al distribution behavior at the Si/Slag interface was investigated; a short reaction time (10 s) resulted in the formation of successive SiO2–CaO–MgO–Al2O3 layers in the slag with a thickness of 10 µm; increasing the reaction time (60 s) resulted in the entire ternary slag being changed into SiO2–CaO–MgO–Al2O3 quaternary slag due to the diffusion of Al2O3. It was shown that the highest impurity removal rate of Al could be achieved at the onset of the slag refining process. Based on the Ti distribution at the Si/slag interface, the slag refinement with 51 mol% SiO2–34 mol% CaO–15 mol% MgO had no effect on Ti removal.

Effect of niobium and austenitizing temperature on the microstructures and properties of spray-deposited AISI M3:2 high speed steel

The microstructure and properties of niobium-containing AISI M3:2 high speed steels (HSSs) fabricated by spray forming and traditional casting have been investigated. The results show that fine and uniformly-distributed grains without macrosegregation appeared in the as-deposited HSSs that differ from those of as-cast HSSs. Nb mostly appears in primary MC carbides, whereas it contributes less to the formation of M6C carbides. The high stabilization of Nb-rich MC carbides can pin the grain boundaries during high-temperature austenitizing process, thus conferring a fine grains and raising the content of dissolved alloying elements. Enhanced precipitation strengthening and fine dispersion of NbC carbides throughout the matrix contribute to the high hardness and red hardness of Nb-containing HSS.

Research on an external adjustment method for RPECT roll profiles based on the segmented cooling principle

Roll profile electromagnetic control technology (RPECT) is a new strip flatness control technology that changes roll gap shape by controlling the roll profiles of electromagnetic control rolls (ECRs). To address the randomness of the flatness defect locations, this paper proposes an external adjustment method for RPECT roll profiles based on the segmented cooling principle. Based on the layout of the cooling areas and electromagnetic sticks, an electromagnetic-thermal-structural coupled model is established to analyse roll profile variations. The results show that symmetrically changing the cooling intensities of the different cooling areas can increase or decrease the roll crown of the ECR, while asymmetrically changing the cooling intensities of the different cooling areas can change the position of the maximum bulging point of the ECR. Variations in the component cooling ratio coefficient impact the effects of different cooling strategies, which needs to be considered when selecting the cooling strategy configuration scheme. Compared the maximum bulging values, radial temperature gradients and axial temperature gradients of different electromagnetic stick (ES) structures, the regulation law reverses when the length of the ES is too small, and the variation of the law is very small. Therefore, different ES structures have different segmented cooling regulation characteristics.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of 15-5 PH stainless steel under different aging temperature

The influence of aging temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr15Ni5 precipitation hardening stainless steel (15-5 PH stainless steel) were investigated at aging temperature range of 440–610 °C. The tensile properties at ambient temperature of the 15-5 PH stainless steel processed by different aging temperatures were tested, and the microstructural features were further analyzed utilizing optical microscope (OM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Results indicated the strength of the 15-5 PH stainless steel was firstly decreased with increment of aging temperature from 440 to 540 °C, and then increased with the increment of aging temperature from 540 to 610 °C. The strength and ductility were well matched at aging temperature 470 °C, and the yield strength, tensile strength as well as elongation were determined to be 1170 MPa, 1240 MPa and 24%, respectively. The microstructures concerning to different aging temperatures were overall confirmed to be lath martensite. The strengthening mechanisms induced by dislocation density and the second phase precipitation of Cu-enriched metallic compound under different aging temperatures were determined to be the predominant strengthening mechanisms controlling the variation trend of mechanical properties corresponding to different aging temperatures with respect to 15-5 PH stainless steel.

Preparation of high-strength biochar composite briquette for blast furnace ironmaking

In this research, using iron-oxide fines (average size: 2.5 μm) and biochar fines (average size: 50.0 μm), the biochar composite briquette (BCB) for blast furnace (BF) application was prepared by cold briquetting followed by heat treatment. The preparing conditions were optimized regarding its cold crushing strength. Anti-pulverization capability, reaction development, and structure evolution of the optimally-designed BCB under simulated BF conditions were then examined. Results of optimizing BCB preparation conditions showed that a heating temperature of 1073 K was optimal for preparing the BCB. The optimally-designed BCB contained 11.10 wt.% carbon, 72.21 wt.% Fe3O4, 11.25 wt.% FeO, and 0.77 wt.% Fe, 6.44 wt.% gangue, and had a cold crushing strength of 1800 N/briquette. Results of BCB behavior under simulated BF conditions showed that the cold crushing strength after partial reaction of the BCB ranged from 1500 N/briquette to 5500 N/briquette and its maximum volume shrinkage degree was 0.45. The high anti-pulverization capability of the BCB was supported by the slag matrix or the iron network. Under the simulated BF conditions, the BCB underwent five stages of reduction by atmosphere, partial self-reduction and reduction by atmosphere, full self-reduction, partial self-reduction and gasification by atmosphere, and gasification by atmosphere. It is inferred from the experimental findings that, by charging the BCB in BF, an increase of top gas utilization efficiency could be realized, and a favorable influence on lowering the temperature level of the thermal reserve zone could be obtained.

Effect of rare earth on inclusion evolution in industrial production of HRB500E steel

The effect of rare earth (RE) on inclusion in HRB500E steel was studied based on plant trials. The results showed that S decreased by 47.6% after 0.0059% RE treatment. In samples without RE treatment, the inclusions change from Al2O3-MnO to ellipsoidal Al2O3-MnO-CaO complex inclusion, and the size of such inclusions is ≤ 2 µm and isolated strip MnS inclusion with the size of ≥ 2 µm. With RE treatment, Al2O3-MnO-CaO inclusions are transformed into spherical or ellipsoidal REAlO3 and REAlO3-MnS. The size of such inclusions is ≈ 1.5 µm and single MnS inclusions were not found. The number density and size of inclusions changed significantly after RE treatment. Thermodynamic calculations show that the Gibbs free energy of RE inclusions is more negative and more stable. The transformation model of inclusions is established to illustrate the modification of inclusions during the smelting process.

Cyclic annealing versus continuous annealing of 20 wt.% chromium white cast iron

To destabilize as-cast microstructure of 20 wt.% chromium white iron, cyclic annealing involving repeated austenitization for short duration of 0.6 h at 900, 950, 1000, 1050 and 1100 °C followed by forced air cooling is conducted as an alternative to continuous annealing requiring austenitization for longer period of 4–6 h at the said temperatures followed by furnace cooling. Continuous austenitization destabilizes the austenite matrix through precipitation of secondary carbides and transforms the alloy depleted austenite to pearlite on furnace cooling, thereby reducing the as-cast hardness from HV 669 to HV466. In contrast, repeated austenitization not only destabilizes the austenite matrix through precipitation of secondary carbides followed by its transformation to martensite on forced air cooling, but also causes disintegration of longer eutectic carbides to shorter segments with subsequent increase in hardness to as high as HV 890. Notched impact toughness after both continuous and cyclic annealing remains uniformly at 12.0 J as compared to as-cast value of 6.0 J. Besides, an unexpected rise in abrasive wear resistance after cyclic annealing treatment makes the alloy superior than that obtained by continuous annealing treatment as practiced in industries.