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At least 433 records · Page 24

A study of stress-induced phase transformation and micromechanical behavior of CuZr-based alloy by in-situ neutron diffraction

The stress-induced phase transformation and micromechanical behavior of CuZr-based alloy were investigated by in-situ neutron diffraction. The pseudoelastic behavior with a pronounced strain-hardening effect is observed. The retained martensite nuclei and the residual stress obtained from the 1st cycle reduce the stress threshold for the martensitic transformation. A critical stress level is required for the reverse martensitic transformation from martensite to B2 phase. An increase of intensity for the B2 (110) plane in the 1st cycle is caused by the twinning along the {112}<111> twinning system. The convoluted stress partitioning influenced by the elastic and transformation anisotropy along with the newly formed martensite determines the microstress partitioning of the studied CuZr-based alloy. The reversible martensitic transformation is responsible for the pseudoelasticity. The macro mechanical behavior of the pure B2 phase can be divided into 3 stages, which are mediated by the evolvement of the martensitic transformation. This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

In-situ observation of an unusual phase transformation pathway with Guinier-Preston zone-like precipitates in Zr-based bulk metallic glasses

The pathway of amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation in Zr 52.5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5 bulk metallic glasses was studied using a suite of in-situ techniques. Multi-scale structure evidence reveals a five-stage pathway, analogous to the non-equilibrium transformation process with Guinier-Preston zones during aging in precipitation-hardened alloys, by the following sequence upon isothermal annealing the alloy in the supercooled liquid region: polyamorphous phase transition, chemical phase separation, the formation of a poorly-ordered metastable phase, and the formation of a final crystalline product. The changeable incubation periods at different annealing temperatures, and the abrupt multi-scale structure changes, as well as a latent heat release in the calorimetric measurements, support the first-order nature of the phase transformation at early stages. The structure evolution in real-space indicates that the enhancement of cluster connectivity on the medium-range scale plays essential roles in the early stages of the phase transformation, while the interface-limited ordering dominates the later stages. The experimental results suggest the phase transformation pathway with "Guinier-Preston zone-like" precipitates accompanied by the kinematic development of core-shell structures of diffuse interfaces with order parameters gradients, enabling the step-by-step decrease of free energy of the alloy system during phase transformation, which might be a universal behavior for alloys with excellent glass-forming ability.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Investigation of phase-transformation path in TiZrHf(VNbTa)x refractory high-entropy alloys and its effect on mechanical property

Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) show a great potential as structural materials due to their remarkable properties, such as high strength and thermal stability. Despite these advantages, the RHEAs still suffer from the limited ductility at room temperature. To overcome the strength-ductility trade-off, the new RHEA design strategy, transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) HEAs, have been developed by applying metastability-engineering approach. With the newly developed RHEAs design strategy, we designed metastable RHEAs, TiZrHfVxNbxTax (x = 1.0, 0.5 and 0.1) with decrease of the β-stabilizing elements (V, Nb, and Ta) to promote the transformation-induced ductility and work-hardening capability. The proper addition of the β-stabilizing elements (V, Nb, and Ta) into the ternary equi-molar TiZrHf alloy (TiZrHfV 0.1 Nb 0.1 Ta 0.1 ) leads to stress/strain-induced phase transformation from the body-centered cubic (BCC) to hexagonal-close-packed (HCP) α' and/or orthorhombic α" phases. Here, detailed studies on the phase transformation sequence during the deformation were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD), and transmission-electron microscope (TEM), which revealed the stepwise phase transformation that is responsible for the strong strain hardening behavior. Furthermore, we further suggested the new transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) HEA design strategy, applying the Bo-Md approach.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phase transformation of Ca{sub 4}[Al{sub 6}O{sub 12}]SO{sub 4} and its disordered crystal structure at 1073 K

The phase transformation of Ca{sub 4}[Al{sub 6}O{sub 12}]SO{sub 4} and the crystal structure of its high-temperature phase were investigated by differential thermal analysis, temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction (CuKα{sub 1}). We determined the starting temperature of the orthorhombic-to-cubic transformation during heating (=711 K) and that of the reverse transformation during cooling (=742 K). The thermal hysteresis was negative (=−31 K), suggesting the thermoelasticity of the transformation. The space group of the high temperature phase is I4{sup ¯}3m with the unit-cell dimensions of a=0.92426(2) nm and V=0.78955(2) nm{sup 3} (Z=2) at 1073 K. The initial structural model was derived by the direct methods and further refined by the Rietveld method. The final structural model showed the orientational disordering of SO{sub 4} tetrahedra. The maximum-entropy method-based pattern fitting method was used to confirm the validity of the split-atom model, in which conventional structure bias caused by assuming intensity partitioning was minimized. At around the transformation temperature during heating, the vibrational spectra, corresponding to the Raman-active SO{sub 4} internal stretching mode, showed the continuous and gradual change in the slope of full width at half maximum versus temperature curve. This strongly suggests that the orthorhombic-to-cubic phase transformation would be principally accompanied by the statistical disordering in orientation of the SO{sub 4} tetrahedra, without distinct dynamical reorientation. - Graphical abstract: (Left) Three-dimensional electron-density distributions of the SO{sub 4} tetrahedron with the split-atom model, and (right) a bird's eye view of electron densities on the plane parallel to (111). - Highlights: • Crystal structure of Ca{sub 4}[Al{sub 6}O{sub 12}]SO{sub 4} at 1073 K is determined by powder XRD. • The atom arrangements are represented by the split-atom model. • The MPF method is used to confirm the validity of the model. • The phase transition is accompanied by orientational disordering of SO{sub 4} tetrahedra.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Photoinduced electro-optics measurements of biosilica transformation to cristobalite

In this paper we studied the photoinduced electro optics effects in the thermal transformation process of biosilica to cristobalite, at a relatively low temperature and ambient pressure. This process was characterized by a variety of standards techniques with emphasis on linear electro optic effect measurements. Overall we demonstrated that photoinduced electro optics measurements are very sensitive to the transformation from amorphous structure of silica in the natural sponge samples to laminar string morphology of cristobalite. With this technique we could probe the change in the samples chirality from achiral bio silica to chiral cristobalite structure. Furthermore it is shown that natural biosilica have photoinduced linear electro optics respond indicating the chiral natural of biosilica. - Graphical abstract: The phase transformation of biosilica from marine sponges to Cristobalite under thermal treatment was investigated using photoinduced electro optics measurements. The figure shows the changes of the electro-optic coefficient of cristobalite and biosilica. - Highlights: • We examine phase transformation of biosilica. • We report transition from amorphous biosilica to crystalline Cristobalite. • Biosilica transformation to Cristobalite at temperature of 850 °C. • Biosilica transformation is studied with photoinduced measurements. • We examine changes in the photoinduced linear electro optics properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Morphology and crystallographic orientation relationship in isothermally transformed Fe–N austenite

The 225 °C isothermal transformation of a high-nitrogen austenite with Fe–2.71 wt.% N was investigated by means of electron microscopy. It was found that the transformation products were composed of ultrafine α-Fe and γ′-Fe{sub 4}N plus retained austenite γ, which were in two types of morphologies, namely, (i) with the retained austenite patches dispersed among the (α-Fe + γ′-Fe{sub 4}N) packets and (ii) with the ultrafine α-Fe and γ/γ′-Fe{sub 4}N laths interwoven with each other within a single bainitic packet. A cube–cube orientation relationship between the γ (austenite) and γ′-Fe{sub 4}N, and a near Greninger–Troiano (G–T) one between the γ (austenite) and the bainitic α-ferrite were detected. The morphology, orientation relationship and high hardness (> 1000 HV) of the transformation products indicated that the isothermal transformation of the high nitrogen austenite was analogous to a bainitic one. - Highlights: • Isothermal transformation products consisted of nano-sized α-Fe + γ′ + γ (retained). • The hardness of transformation product exceeded 1000 HV. • The α-Fe and γ/γ′-Fe{sub 4}N kept a near G-T OR in the grain interior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The correlation of local deformation and stress-assisted local phase transformations in MMC foams

Cellular structures are of growing interest for industry, and are of particular importance for lightweight applications. In this paper, a special case of metal matrix composite foams (MMCs) is investigated. The investigated foams are composed of austenitic steel exhibiting transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) and magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ). Both components exhibit martensitic phase transformation during deformation, thus generating the potential for improved mechanical properties such as strength, ductility, and energy absorption capability. The aim of these investigations was to show that stress-assisted phase transformations within the ceramic reinforcement correspond to strong local deformation, and to determine whether they can trigger martensitic phase transformations in the steel matrix. To this end, in situ interrupted compression experiments were performed in an X-ray computed tomography device (XCT). By using a recently developed registration algorithm, local deformation could be calculated and regions of interest could be defined. Corresponding cross sections were prepared and used to analyze the local phase composition by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results show a strong correlation between local deformation and phase transformation. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • In situ compressive deformation on MMC foams was performed in an XCT. • Local deformation fields and their gradient amplitudes were estimated. • Cross sections were manufactured containing defined regions of interest. • Local EBSD phase analysis was performed. • Local deformation and local phase transformation are correlated.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structure transformation of Ti films deposited on SiC single crystal substrates

Highlights: • In this paper, an interesting intermediate state of the fcc-hcp transformation in Ti films was observed. • We figured this intermediate structure out by XRD and HRTEM. • The formation of this intermediate state and the mechanism of thickness-dependent fcc-hcp transformation were discussed. - Abstract: This paper reports the structure transformation of Ti films deposited on SiC(0001) single crystal substrates using DC magnetron sputtering. Film thickness, sputter power and temperature of deposition were changed to investigate structure transformation of Ti films. The structure characterization of Ti film was performed by means of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM). The results showed that the Ti film grew epitaxially with a face centered cubic (fcc) structure even the thickness is up to about 50 nm. High temperature and low sputter power are propitious to the formation of fcc-Ti. An interesting intermediate state of the fcc-hcp transformation was observed. This intermediate structure could help us to understand the mechanism of thickness-dependent fcc-hcp transformation in Ti thin films.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Orientation relationships of phase transformation in α-Al12Mn3Si pseudomorphs after plate-like Al6Mn precipitate in an AA3004 Al-Mn based alloy

Highlights: • The phase transformation in the plate-like precipitates was investigated by TEM. • The shape of a plate-like Al{sub 6}Mn was kept after transforming to the α-Al{sub 12}Mn{sub 3}Si. • Pseudomorph in metal materials has been found out. - Abstract: The phase transformation in the plate-like precipitates of Al{sub 6}Mn in an AA3004 Al-Mn based alloy, which was prepared by a chemical extraction technique, was investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The boiling-phenol method observed the entire range of possible shapes of the precipitates and the habit planes of the plate-like Al{sub 6}Mn were <001> in the sheet plane and <110> on its edges. The two orientation relationships between Al{sub 6}Mn and α-Al{sub 12}Mn{sub 3}Si after the phase transformation is observed to be [00 1-bar ]{sub 6}//[02 3-bar ]{sub α} and (130){sub 6}//(5 3-bar 2){sub α} and [00 1-bar ]{sub 6}//[1 5-bar 2]{sub α} and (200){sub 6}//(311){sub α} (particles 1 and 2) (the suffixes 6 and α indicate zone axises or lattice planes of Al{sub 6}Mn and α-Al{sub 12}Mn{sub 3}Si phases, respectively). The lattice misfits in these orientation relationships were observed to be − 1.4% and 1.0%, respectively. Additionally, the thickness of the plate-like Al{sub 6}Mn was kept constant after transforming into the α-Al{sub 12}Mn{sub 3}Si phase. Further, we did not observe any low index planes of the α-Al{sub 12}Mn{sub 3}Si parallel to the (001) plane of the Al{sub 6}Mn, which means that the outlines of α-Al{sub 12}Mn{sub 3}Si were constrained by the original shape of Al{sub 6}Mn, i.e., the transformed α-Al{sub 12}Mn{sub 3}Si may be considered as a pseudomorph after Al{sub 6}Mn.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of austenite grain size on acicular ferrite transformation in a HSLA steel

Highlights: • The fraction of acicular ferrite increases with reduced austenite grain sizes. • The reduction of austenite grain size refines and homogenises the microstructure. • There is a limit to increase the acicular ferrite fraction by reducing austenite size. • An equation relating effective grain sizes with processing parameters was proposed. - Abstract: Austenite grain size is well known to have a significant influence on various phase transformations in steels. Although the effects of many thermomechanical processing parameters on acicular ferrite (AF) transformation in HSLA steels have been investigated, little attention has been paid to the influence of austenite grain size. Therefore, in this research, different parameters of solid-solution heat treatment and rough deformation were adopted to generate austenite with different grain sizes and the effects of austenite grain size before deformation on the AF transformation and grain refinement were investigated. It was found that the reduction of prior-austenite grain size (PAGS) from 62.8 μm to 37.0 μm before austenite deformation promotes the AF transformation and simultaneously refines and homogenises the transformed microstructures. A reciprocally increased density of deformation induced dislocations with the reduction of PAGS was proposed to account for these results, which not only increase the nucleation sites of AF but also suppress the lengthening of BF laths. Further reducing PAGS from 37.0 μm to 22.3 μm, the fraction of AF is not increased and the transformed microstructure is not refined. Possible differences in the type, distribution, and density of austenite deformation substructures between austenite with PAGSs of 37.0 μm and 22.3 μm were argued to be responsible for the cease of grain refinement. The relationship between effective grain sizes and the S{sub v} parameter was investigated and an equation relating effective grain sizes with processing parameters was also proposed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of impurities on phase transformation and precipitation in a low-carbon steel

Impurity elements have been added to a commercial low carbon steel grade to simulate the levels that could arise as a result of increased scrap recycling during steel production. In this study, continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams were constructed for the steels with varying levels of impurities, and it is shown that impurities suppress the phase transformation across a wide range of cooling rates. It was found that a step was formed in the start temperature curve, separating the reconstructive and displacive transformations. The influence of impurities on both the reconstructive transformation and displacive transformation are discussed. Additionally, Cu precipitates were observed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in the highest impurity-containing steel after slow cooling (0.05°C/s), fast cooling (5°C/s) and interrupted cooling. It was found that the precipitation kinetics is in the following order: cementite within the secondary phase and cementite at secondary phase-ferrite interface> ferrite grain boundaries> ferrite grain matrix. Atom-probe tomography (APT) revealed Cu precipitates formed on the surface of cementite lamellae, but not within it. This work offers insights for the phase transformation control and precipitation regulation during the thermomechanical processing of low carbon steels containing impurity elements due to scrap recycling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Molecular dynamics simulation of vacancy and void effects on strain-induced martensitic transformations in Fe-50 at.% Ni model concentrated solid solution alloy

Strain-induced martensitic transformations can improve the strength and ductility of some face centered cubic (FCC) metals and alloys. Irradiation-induced defects such as vacancies, dislocation loops, and voids activate martensitic transformations over a wider range of mechanical loading conditions than in pristine material. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying irradiation-enabled martensite transformations remain unclear. In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations to study the effect of vacancies and voids on strain-induced martensitic transformations in a model concentrated solid solution alloy Fe-50 at.% Ni. It has been found that single vacancies have no resolvable effect on the transformation because they reduce the stacking fault energy by a relatively insignificant margin and do so only if the vacancy is located on the stacking fault plane. Voids, however, activate the martensite transformation through shear strain accumulation around the void due to dislocation pileup. The larger the void, the more pronounced this effect.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

2D-DIGE and MALDI TOF/TOF MS analysis reveal that small GTPase signaling pathways may play an important role in cadmium-induced colon cell malignant transformation

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal present in the environment and in industrial materials. Cadmium has demonstrated carcinogenic activity that induces cell transformation, but how this occurs is unclear. We used 2D-DIGE and MALDI TOF/TOF MS combined with bioinformatics and immunoblotting to investigate the molecular mechanism of cadmium transformation. We found that small GTPases were critical for transformation. Additionally, proteins involved in mitochondrial transcription, DNA repair, and translation also had altered expression patterns in cadmium treated cells. Collectively, our results suggest that activation of small GTPases contributes to cadmium-induced transformation of colon cells. - Highlights: • Colon epithelial cell line is firstly successfully transformed by cadmium. • 2D-DIGE is applied to visualize the differentially expressed proteins. • RhoA plays an important role in cadmium induced malignant transformation. • Bioinformatic and experimental methods are combined to explore new mechanisms.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

A comprehensive review of metal-induced cellular transformation studies

In vitro transformation assays not only serve practical purposes in screening for potential carcinogenic substances in food, drug, and cosmetic industries, but more importantly, they provide a means of understanding the critical biological processes behind in vivo cancer development. In resemblance to cancer cells in vivo, successfully transformed cells display loss of contact inhibition, gain of anchorage independent growth, resistant to proper cell cycle regulation such as apoptosis, faster proliferation rate, potential for cellular invasion, and ability to form tumors in experimental animals. Cells purposely transformed using metal exposures enable researchers to examine molecular changes, dissect various stages of tumor formation, and ultimately elucidate metal induced cancer mode of action. For practical purposes, this review specifically focuses on studies incorporating As-, Cd-, Cr-, and Ni-induced cell transformation. Through investigating and comparing an extensive list of studies using various methods of metal-induced transformation, this review serves to bridge an information gap and provide a guide for avoiding procedural discrepancies as well as maximizing experimental efficiency. - Highlights: • In vitro transformation studies provide insights for metal-induced carcinogenesis. • Heavily individualized protocols may obscure scientific results and understandings. • This review may be used as reference for avoiding procedural discrepancies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Studies on the coupling transformer to improve the performance of microwave ion source

A 2.45 GHz microwave ion source has been developed and installed at the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre to produce high intensity proton beam. It is operational and has already produced more than 12 mA of proton beam with just 350 W of microwave power. In order to optimize the coupling of microwave power to the plasma, a maximally flat matching transformer has been used. In this paper, we first describe an analytical method to design the matching transformer and then present the results of rigorous simulation performed using ANSYS HFSS code to understand the effect of different parameters on the transformed impedance and reflection and transmission coefficients. Based on the simulation results, we have chosen two different coupling transformers which are double ridged waveguides with ridge widths of 24 mm and 48 mm. We have fabricated these transformers and performed experiments to study the influence of these transformers on the coupling of microwave to plasma and extracted beam current from the ion source.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Planar Transformer With Asymmetric Integrated Leakage Inductance Using Horizontal Air Gap

This article presents a novel planar-based transformer winding and core structure with controllable leakage inductance generation for integrated magnetics applications. As a result of limitations in integrated magnetics from the literature, a new approach is proposed utilizing semi-interleaved windings and controllable leakage via a leakage flux core leg featuring a horizontal air gap. Here, the proposed transformer design is analyzed via detailed reluctance modeling to determine closed-form equations for the magnetizing and asymmetrically distributed leakage inductances. Next, a genetic-algorithm-based multiobjective design optimization problem is developed, seeking to minimize the core and winding losses of the proposed transformer subject to a set of parametric and geometric constraints in a dc-ac dual-active-bridge topology for microinverter applications. The optimization was extended to include other integrated magnetic structures from the literature, where it is determined that the proposed transformer is superior from the perspectives of efficiency, footprint area, and parasitic capacitance. Based on the results of the optimization analysis, two designs with theoretical transformer California Energy Commission (CEC) efficiency drops (i.e., CEC efficiency reduction specifically due to the transformer loss mechanisms) of 1.19% and 0.83% were fabricated and evaluated for electrical and thermal performance in the proposed 40 V, 400 W microinverter.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Raman spectroscopic characterization of SiO 2 phase transformation and Si substrate stress relevant to EBC performance

To accurately model the long-term durability of environmental barrier coatings (EBCs), a more complete understanding of the phase composition and transformations of the thermally grown oxide SiO 2 (TGO) is desired. For the TGO formed during thermal cycling in steam, cristobalite formation and the subsequent β- to α-cristobalite transformation has been identified as a potentially life-limiting mechanism. In this study, Raman micro-spectroscopy was used to quantify the cristobalite transformation on a polycrystalline Si coupon that was exposed to steam at 1350°C for 100 h. The phase transformation was mapped at 200–260°C on the TGO surface at different ramp rates using a heating stage and a micro-positioning stage. The stress in the Si substrate was also determined using Raman spectroscopy by measuring the stress induced peak shift. The α→β phase transformation produced a 300–500 MPa tensile stress in the Si substrate, which compared well to the stress predicted from the volumetric expansion of the cristobalite. In conclusion, quantifying the phase transformation and residual stress are critical tools in developing the next generation of high performance EBCs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

WE-AB-202-06: Correlating Lung CT HU with Transformation-Based and Xe-CT Derived Ventilation

Purpose: Regional lung ventilation is useful to reduce radiation-induced function damage during lung cancer radiation therapy. Recently a new direct HU (Hounsfield unit)-based method was proposed to estimate the ventilation potential without image registration. The purpose of this study is to examine if there is a functional dependence between HU values and transformation-based or Xe-CT derived ventilation. Methods: 4DCT images acquired from 13 patients prior to radiation therapy and 4 mechanically ventilated sheep subjects which also have associated Xe-CT images were used for this analysis. Transformation-based ventilation was computed using Jacobian determinant of the transformation field between peak-exhale and peak-inhale 4DCT images. Both transformation and Xe-CT derived ventilation was computed for each HU bin. Color scatter plot and cumulative histogram were used to compare and validate the direct HU-based method. Results: There was little change of the center and shape of the HU histograms between free breathing CT and 4DCT average, with or without smoothing, and between the repeated 4DCT scans. HU of −750 and −630 were found to have the greatest transformation-based ventilation for human and sheep subjects, respectively. Maximum Xe-CT derived ventilation was found to locate at HU of −600 in sheep subjects. The curve between Xe-CT ventilation and HU was noisy for tissue above HU −400, possibly due to less intensity change of Xe gas during wash-out and wash-in phases. Conclusion: Both transformation-based and Xe-CT ventilation demonstrated that lung tissues with HU values in the range of (-750, −600) HU have the maximum ventilation potential. The correlation between HU and ventilation suggests that HU might be used to help guide the ventilation calculation and make it more robust to noise and image registration errors. Research support from NIH grants CA166703 and CA166119 and a gift from Roger Koch.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗