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At least 559 records · Page 31

The microstructure of MnBi/Bi eutectic alloys

Directionally solidified eutectic alloys of the system MnBi/Bi have been investigated with reference to the dependence of the fiber spacing on the growth rate and the interfacial temperature gradient. It is found that the fiber spacing varies as the inverse square root of the growth rate and does not depend on the temperature gradient in contrast to the claims that all faceted/non-faceted eutectics should show a temperature gradient influence.

Ravishankar, P. S.↗

Graphitic carbon in the Allende meteorite - A microstructural study

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows that carbon in the Allende carbonaceous chondrite meteorite is predominantly a poorly crystalline graphite. Such material is of interest as an important carrier of the isotopically anomalous noble gases found in carbonaceous chondrites.

Smith, P. P. K.↗

Effect of the powder characteristics of Sisub3Nsub4 on the microstructure of sintered bodies

Silicon nitride powders sintered with the addition of 2 wt% Mg0 to 95% theoretical density after attrition milling and subsequent purification were evaluated. Preparation of the powders is described. The powder characteristics (specific surfaces, iron concentration, and oxygen content), and density, weight loss, and phase state of the sinter bodies as a function of powder preparation are presented.

Woetting, G.↗

Microstructural effects on the room and elevated temperature low cycle fatigue behavior of Waspaloy

Longitudinal specimens of Waspaloy containing either coarse grains with small gamma or fine grains with large gamma were tested in air at a frequency of 0.33 Hz or 0.50 Hz. The coarse grained structures exhibited planar slip on (III) planes and precipitate shearing at all temperatures. Cracks initiated by a Stage 1 mechanism and propagated by a striation forming mechanism. At 700 C and 800 C, cleavage and intergranular cracking were observed. Testing at 500 C, 700 C, and 800 C caused precipitation of grain boundary carbides. At 700 C, carbides precipitated on slip bands. The fine grained structures exhibited planar slip on (111) planes. Dislocations looped the large gamma precipitates. This structure led to stress saturation and propagation was observed. Increasing temperatures resulted in increased specimen oxidation for both heat treatments. Slip band and grain boundary oxidation were observed. At 800 C, oxidized grain boundaries were cracked by intersecting slip bands which resulted in intergranular failure. The fine specimens had crack initiation later in the fatigue life, but with more rapid propagation crack propagation.

Lerch, B. A.↗

Microstructure and property characterization of sintered Si3N4, SiC, and SiAlON

Commercially-produced, pressureless sintered Si3N4, SiC, and SiAlON were characterized with respect to density, phases present, bend strength, and oxidation resistance. The room-temperature bend strengths of sintered Si3N4, SiC, and SiAlON are comparable. However, the room-temperature strengths are much lower (approximately 40 to 50%) than the room-temperature strength of hot-pressed Si3N4 (NC-132). The strength loss in Si3N4 and SiAlON materials at high temperature was attributed to a viscous grain-boundary phase, retained during cooling from the sintering temperature. The oxidation resistance of sintered alpha-SiC was the best of any materials tested.

Dutta, S.↗

Microstructure and particulate properties of the surfaces of Io and Ganymede - Comparison with other solar system bodies

The phase curves of Io and Ganymede between 0 and 40 deg solar phase angle have been compiled from Voyager photopolarimeter and ground-based observations. Modeling the data with the Lumme-Bowell theory made it possible to determine improved estimates of the surface texture and particulate properties. Accurate V-band zero-phase geometric albedos, phase integrals, and Bond albedos are also obtained. The properties of the particles on Io's surface appear to be different from those of other solar system objects whose surfaces are totally controlled by impact cratering processes. Sulfur and SO2 frost, previously identified by spectral analysis, seem to exist in a physical form not commonly found on earth. The agglomeration of volcanic ash into aggregates on Io's surface is postulated.

Pang, K. D.↗

Computation of Bragg Reflection for Layered Microstructures

Bragg diffractors analyzed for use in X-ray mirrors and other applications. SLM tailored to specific applications by varying layer thicknesses and number of layers to control reflectivity diffraction width, and wavelength resolution. Applications as glancing incidence mirrors or filters for wavelengths of few to few hundred angstroms.

Underwood, J. W.↗

Tribological and microstructural characteristics of ion-nitrided steels

Three steels AISI 4140, AISI 4340 and AISI 304 stainless steel were ion nitrided in a plasma consisting of a 75:25 mixture of H2:N2, sometimes with a trace of CH4. Their surface topography was characterized by SEM and two distinct compound phases were identified: the gamma and the epsilon. The core-case hardness profiles were also established. The low Cr alloy steels have an extended diffusion zone in contrast to the 304 stainless steels which have a sharp interface. The depth of ion-nitriding is increased as the Cr content is decreased. Friction tests reveal that the gamma surface phase has a lower coefficient of friction than the epsilon phase. The lowest coefficient of friction is achieved when both the rider and the specimen surface are ion nitrided.

Spalvins, T.↗

Relation of cyclic loading pattern to microstructural fracture in creep fatigue

Creep-fatigue-environment interaction is discussed using the 'strainrange partitioning' (SRP) framework as a basis. The four generic SRP strainrange types are studied with a view of revealing differences in micromechanisms of deformation and fatigue degradation. Each combines in a different manner the degradation associated with slip-plane sliding, grain-boundary sliding, migration, cavitation, void development and environmental interaction; hence the approch is useful in delineating the relative importance of these mechanisms in the different loadings. Micromechanistic results are shown for a number of materials, including 316 SS, wrought heat resistant alloys, several nickel-base superalloys, and a tantalum base alloy, T-111. Although there is a commonality of basic behavior, the differences are useful in delineation several important principles of interpretation. Some quantitative results are presented for 316 SS, involving crack initiation and early crack growth, as well as the interaction of low-cycle fatigue with high-cycle fatigue.

Manson, S. S.↗

Correlation of Rupture Life, Creep Rate, and Microstructure for Type 304 Stainless Steel

The stress and temperature sensitivites of the rupture life and secondary creep rate were examined in detail for a single heat of type 304 stainless steel (9T2796). Assuming that the rupture life has a power law stress dependency, relatively small differences in the stress exponent were observed over a broad range of stress and temperature. In contrast, large changes were observed for equivalent parameter for secondary creep rate. As a result of these differences, the Monkman-Grant correlation was sensitive to stress and temperature below 650 C. Metallurgical studies based on light and transmission electron microscopy suggested that the temperature and stress sensitivities of secondary creep rate at temperatures below 650 C were related to features of the substructure not present at higher temperature. Specifically, the presence of a fine dislocation network stabilized by precipitates altered the stress and temperature sensitivities relative to what might be expected from high temperature studies.

Swindeman, R. W.↗

X-ray and extreme ultraviolet imaging using layered synthetic microstructures

Up to now designers of X-ray optical instruments such as microscopes and telescopes have been compelled to use mirrors operating at small glancing angles. However, using vapor deposition techniques, it is now possible to build multilayered thin film structures in which the individual layers have thicknesses comparable with a wavelength of X-rays. These devices operate in a manner exactly analogous to multilayer dielectric coatings at visible wavelengths and can be used to increase the X-ray and extreme ultraviolet reflectivity of surfaces at large glancing angles. These X-ray mirrors have numerous potential applications in X-ray optics. Attention is given to X-ray images with a normal incidence mirror, and applications of multilayer optics. Single-mirror telescopes for solar/stellar astronomy are discussed, taking into account solar corona and transition region studies, and X-ray and extreme ultraviolet astronomy. Hybrid X-ray telescopes are also considered.

Underwood, J. H.↗

Composites with periodic microstructure

For an elastic body containing periodically distributed inhomogeneities, a general procedure is developed for estimating the overall properties of the composite in terms of several infinite series which, for the isotropic matrix (but anisotropic inclusions), depend only on the geometry of the inhomogeneities and hence can be calculated once and for all for each geometry. These infinite series are obtained and tabulated for ellipsoidal inhomogeneities, and the results are used to estimate the overall elastic moduli of composites which contain spherical or ellipsoidal voids or elastic inclusions.

Iwakuma, T.↗

Effective constitutive relations for the microstructure of periodic frames

Effective micro-structure properties of two-dimensional large repetitive frame-like structures are derived using straightforward combinations of energy methods of linear transformations. Once the actual structure is identified symmetry considerations are used in order to identify its independent property constants. The actual values of these constants are constructed according to a building block format which is carried out in the three consecutive steps: (1) all basic planar lattices are identified, (2) effective continuum properties are derived for each of these planar basic grids using energy methods, and (3) orthogonal transformations are finally used to determine the contribution of each basic set to the overall effective continuum properties of the structure.

Nayfeh, A. H.↗

Microstructure and orientation effects on properties of discontinuous silicon carbide/aluminum composites

Composite panels containing up to 40 vol % discontinuous silicon carbide SiC whisker, nodule, or particulate reinforcement in several aluminum matrices are commercially fabricated and the mechanical properties and microstructual characteristics are evaluated. The yield and tensile strengths and the ductility are controlled primarily by the matrix alloy, the temper condition, and the reinforcement content. Particulate and nodule reinforcements are as effective as whisker reinforcement. Increased ductility is attributed to purer, more uniform starting materials and to more mechanical working during fabrication. Comparing mechanical properties with those of other aluminum alloys shows that these low cost, lightweight composites demonstrate very good potential for application to aerospace structures.

Mcdanels, D. L.↗

Mesospheric scatter and its microstructure

The difference in character between mesospheric returns from about 70 and about 80 km was noted. The 69-km echo is characterized by a single return with about .1 Hz width, while the 82.5 km return extends over more than 3 Hz bandwidth; this difference is also perceptible, but to a lesser degree, on the fading curves. The conclusion seems inescapable that internal random velocities of a few m/s are present within the scattering volume for the 82.5-km echo. The most likely source for these rather large velocities is convective instability arising from deformations of the temperature profile by breaking gravity waves. The distinction between the two types of scatter at these altitudes probably accounts for the behavior with frequency of the nightime fading period at low and very low frequencies. The fading period of D-region reflections at night was constant at about 7 min from 16 to 43 kHz, but that at frequencies of 70 kHz and above, the fading period decreased in such a way as to indicate the presence of irregularities smaller than about 1 km in size. This suggests that frequencies of 48 kHz and above, the fading period decreased in such a way as to indicate the presence of irregularities smaller than about 1 km in size. This suggests that frequencies of 48 kHz and below were reflected primarily from the region below 80 km where the narrow spectral irregularities dominate.

Bowhill, S. A.↗

Changes in solidified microstructures

The properties and casting behavior of metals are significantly affected by their cast structure. This structure is optimized by producing columnar versus equiaxed grains and coarse versus fine grains by controlling solidification conditions. The transition from columnar to equiaxed grains is favored by: constitutional supercooling with effective nucleation of free dendrites; melting off and transport of dendrite tips and arms; mechanical vibration; falling down of free dendrites from a chilled top surface; and induced flow in the solidifying structure by oscillation of rotation.

Wallace, J. F.↗