Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “ALLOY”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,711 records · Page 95

Absorption and diffusion of oxygen in the Ti{sub 3}Al alloy

The absorption and diffusion of oxygen in the Ti{sub 3}Al alloy are studied by the projector augmented wave within the density functional theory. The highest absorption energies are shown to correspond to the sites in the octahedra formed by six titanium atoms, and the presence of aluminum in the nearest neighbors leads to a substantial decrease in the binding energy of oxygen in the alloy by approximately 1.5 eV. The energy barriers of oxygen diffusion between various interstices in the crystal lattice of the alloy are estimated, and the preferred migration paths in the (0001) plane and the [0001] direction are determined. It is found that the migration barrier from the most preferred octahedral O1 site to distorted tetrahedral Ti-site (2.42 eV) is a key barrier and limits the oxygen diffusion in the alloy. The calculated temperature diffusion coefficient of oxygen in the Ti{sub 3}Al alloy and the activation energies determined in two directions agree with the experimental data.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experimental studies of the effects of atomic ordering in epitaxial Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–x}P alloys on their structural and morphological properties

The properties of epitaxial Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–x}P alloys with an ordered arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice are studied by a number of structural and microscopic methods. The alloys are grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition onto single-crystal GaAs(100) substrates. It is shown that, under conditions for the coherent growth of an ordered Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–x}P alloy on a GaAs(100) substrate, atomic ordering results in radical modifications of the structural properties of the semiconductor compared to the properties of disordered alloys. Among these modifications are a change in the crystal-lattice parameter and, as a consequence, lowering of the crystal symmetry and the formation of two different types of surface nanorelief. With consideration for elastic strains, the parameters of Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–x}P alloys with ordering as functions of the order parameter are calculated for the first time. It is shown that all experimental data are in good agreement with the developed theoretical concepts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experimental studies of the effects of atomic ordering in epitaxial Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–} {sub x}P alloys on their optical properties

The properties of epitaxial Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–} {sub x}P alloys with an ordered arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice are studied by a number of spectroscopic methods. The alloys are grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition onto single-crystal GaAs(100) substrates. It is shown that, under conditions of the coherent growth of an ordered Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–} {sub x}P alloy on a GaAs(100) substrate, atomic ordering results in radical modifications of the optical properties of the semiconductor compared to the properties of disordered alloys. Among these modifications are a decrease in the band gap and an increase in the luminescence intensity. From the data of dispersion analysis of the infrared dispersion spectra and from ultraviolet spectroscopy data obtained in the transmittance–reflection mode of measurements, the basic optical characteristics, specifically, the dispersion of the refractive index and the high-frequency permittivity of Ga{sub x}In{sub 1–} {sub x}P alloys with ordering are determined. All of the experimental data are in good agreement with the developed theoretical concepts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Anisotropy of the Thermal Expansion of a Polycrystalline Ni–Mn–Ga Alloy Subjected to Plastic Deformation by Forging

The formation of a sharp crystallographic texture in a Ni–Mn–Ga Heusler alloy by the multiple isothermal forging has been studied. An analysis of the thermal expansion near the martensitic transformation temperatures in the as-cast and forged states of the alloy shows that the thermomechanical treatment leads to an increase in the anisotropy of the sample geometric size changing during the phase transformation, which favors an increase in the functional characteristics of the alloy. The structural studies show that the alloy structure after multiple isothermal forging has the bimodal distribution of grain sizes. The formation of the bimodal structure by forging is assumed to make it possible to enhance the stability of the functional properties of the alloy during repeated cycles of the phase transformation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Crystallographic Features of the α-Phase Structure in Hafnium and Hafnium–Titanium Alloys

The structure of a hafnium crystal undergoing β → α (bcc → hcp) polymorphic transformation upon gradual cooling and the structure of Hf{sub 55}Ti{sub 45} and Hf{sub 30}Ti{sub 70} alloys formed under various kinetic conditions of polymorphic transformation are studied. The structure of the α phase in cast hafnium is shown to consist of lath crystals grouped into packets. The misorientations between separate laths in a packet are less than 1°. The Hf–Ti alloys in the cast state exhibit a mixed structure consisting of α-phase crystals of several morphological types. A structure of packet martensite is observed in the Hf–Ti alloys after quenching. Each packet includes laths of several crystallographic orientations. There is no regular alternation of differently orientated laths in the packet. The same set of α-phase orientations within an initial β-phase grain is observed independently of the cooling rate of the Hf–Ti alloys upon β → α polymorphic transformation. The misorientation of substructural elements within an α-phase crystal in the Hf–Ti alloys is ~5° for the cast state and ~2.2° after quenching.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Surface Film Formation on Al-V Alloys with Far-From-Equilibrium Microstructure

Nanocrystalline supersaturated Al-V alloys produced by high-energy ball milling have been reported to exhibit enhanced corrosion resistance and mechanical properties compared to commercial Al alloys. Corrosion of passive alloys such as Al-V alloy relies on the characteristics of the surface film, which is studied using scanning/transmission electron microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The effect of microstructure and composition on the surface film has been investigated after different immersion periods (30 min, 2 h, and 1 day) in 0.1 M NaCl. The surface film was complex and composed of oxidized Al and V. The heterogeneous surface film was observed due to the presence of secondary phases and initiation of localized corrosion. The void formation was observed beneath the surface film that would potentially cause pitting corrosion. The generation of nano-sized voids was dependent on grain orientation. Compared to pure Al, the chloride penetration is suppressed in Al-V alloys. The effect of composition and microstructure on surface film formation and attendant corrosion behavior is discussed herein.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cation and Vacancy Disorder in U 1-y Nd y O 2.00-X Alloys

In this study, the intermixing and clustering of U/Nd, O, and vacancies were studied by both laboratory and synchrotron-based x-ray diffraction in U 1-y Nd y O 2-X alloys. It was found that an increased holding time at the high experimental temperature during initial alloy preparation results in a lower disorder of the Nd distribution in the alloys. Adjustment of the oxygen concentration in the U 1-y Nd y O 2-X alloys with different Nd concentrations was accompanied by the formation of vacancies on the oxygen sublattice and a nanocrystalline component. The lattice parameters in the U 1-y Nd y O 2-X alloys were also found to deviate significantly from Vegard's law when the Nd concentration was high (53%) and decreased with increasing oxygen concentration. Such changes indicate the formation of large vacancy concentrations during oxygen adjustment at these high temperatures. Finally, the change in the vacancy concentration after the oxygen adjustment was estimated relative to Nd concentration and oxygen stoichiometry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nb-1Zr L-PBF In-situ Alloying and Elevated Temperature Mechanical Performance

Nb-1Zr is a readily-fabricable, dispersion-strengthened niobium alloy with improved elevated temperature properties compared to commercially pure niobium. This moderate strength niobium alloy is desirable in thermal management systems for fission power and propulsion applications; however, pre-alloyed spherical feedstock is generally unavailable. Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) in-situ alloying of a Nb-1Zr chemistry was performed using a pure niobium feedstock coated with 1 wt% of zirconium-based ceramic compound nano-powders. The additively manufactured material was mechanically tested at elevated temperatures in a controlled environment in the as-built condition. For comparison, traditionally manufactured wrought feedstock was also tested under identical conditions. Examination of the materials’ microstructure and elevated temperature mechanical response aimed to determine the Zr-compound nano-powder addition with the best performance, and the overall feasibility of the in-situ alloying approach.

Niobium-based alloys↗

Characterization of SCC Initiation Precursors in Cold-Worked Alloy 690

Due to its superior resistance to corrosion and stress corrosion cracking (SCC), high Cr, Ni-base Alloy 690 is now commonly used in pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Even though highly cold-worked (CW) Alloy 690 has been shown to be susceptible to SCC crack growth in PWR primary water environments, an open question remains whether SCC initiation was possible for these materials under constant load test conditions. Testing has been performed on a series of CW alloy 690 CRDM tubing specimens at constant load for up to 9,220 hours in 360°C simulated PWR primary water. A companion paper will discuss the overall testing approach and describe results on different alloy 690 heats and cold work levels. The focus of the current paper is to illustrate the use of focused ion beam (FIB), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the high-resolution investigation of precursor damage and intergranular (IG) crack nucleation in these specimens. Three-dimensional (3D) FIB/SEM imaging has been conducted on a series of grain boundary (GB) damage precursors, such as IG small cavities, local corrosion and even shallow cracks observed at the specimen surface. Contrast variations and EDS mapping were used to distinguish oxides, carbides and cavities from the matrix material. Nanometer-sized cavities were observed associated with GB carbides in the highly CW specimens. Shallow IG cracks were present in the 30%CW specimens and exhibited oxidized crack flanks and a higher density of cavities ahead of the oxide front in all cases. The shape and distribution of carbides and cavities in the plane of the cracked GBs was analyzed in 3D to gain a mechanistic understanding of the processes that may be leading to crack initiation in highly CW alloy 690.

3D FIB/SEM↗

Casting Aluminum Alloys: Their Physical and Mechanical Metallurgy

The follow up to the fall 2007 work on the structure, properties, thermal resistance, corrosion and fatigue of aluminum alloys in industrial manufacturing, discusses findings from the past decade, including sections on new casting alloys, novel casting technologies, and new methods of alloys design. The book also includes other hot topics, such as the implementation of computational technologies for the calculation of phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of alloys, the development of software for calculation of diffusion processes in aluminum alloys, computational modeling of solidification microstructure and texture evolution of multi-component aluminum materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Multi-Pass Hybrid Laser Arc Welding of Alloy 740H

The presentation reviews the progress made toward reducing the joining time of an advanced nickel-based alloy, Alloy 740H by a factor of two using a novel two step fusion welding approach. In the first step, a high powered laser is used to rapidly join thick weld groove lands (~10-12 mm thick) during a single pass. Hybrid laser arc welding (HLAW) is then used to fill the remaining weld groove and complete the joint. This sequential process also utilizes laser wobble in both steps to reduce welding defects and refine the weld microstructure to obtain improved properties compared to conventional gas tungsten or gas metal arc welds, GTAW and GMAW, respectively. The creep behavior of laser-only thick weld groove land welds and HLAW welds were found to be the same or slightly improved compared to conventional GMAW or GTAW welds in this alloy. Creep tests have been started to verify the long-term creep behavior (~10,000 hrs) of these welds. Modeling results on deep penetration laser welding are presented and the initial simulations of laser welding with laser wobble are shown. The next phase of the project will combine the two processes to make complete welds - deep penetration laser welds of thick weld groove lands followed by rapid filling of the remaining weld groove by HLAW - in thick plates (32 mm thick) Alloy 740H plate and entails development of narrow weld groove welding to further decrease the joining time of this alloy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electrochemical Characterization of Certain Mg-Based Alloys in Artificial Perspiration Biofluid for Consumer and Industrial Applications

The weight reduction of numerous consumer electronic devices is of increasing importance. In this respect, ultra-light magnesium alloys have attracted more attention to be used as frame materials. Nevertheless, Mg alloys are of intrinsically poor corrosion resistance, especially in chloride ion-containing environments. Human perspiration fluid with a relatively high chloride ions content (~ 0.14 M) comes in contact with a number of consumer products resulting in a variety of undesirable effects such as malfunction and corrosion. Based on that, the present work addresses the corrosion behavior of five AZ-Mg alloys including AZ91D, AZ80E, AZ31, AM60 and AXJ530 in artificial perspiration biofluid at human body temperature of 37 °C. The study is performed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization techniques supported by surface morphological and EDX spectra examinations. The surface layer total resistance value (R{sub T}) estimated from the analysis of obtained impedance data after 12-h exposure period reveals that durability of our tested samples increases in the following sequence: AZ80 > AZ91 > AZ31 > AM60 > AXJ530 > Mg (control). AZ80E alloy at top of this sequence points to its significantly high anti-corrosion performance in artificial perspiration biofluid and thus can be the best Mg materials of choice for many housing consumer electronic products. This outcome is in consistence with the corrosion rate (P{sub i} in mm y{sup −1}) trend as derived from the potentiodynamic polarization data that decreases in the following order: AZ80 (0.25) < AZ91 (0.49) < AZ31 (1.03) < AM60 (1.23) < AXJ530 (5.36) < Mg (5.98). Both FE-SEM images and EDX analyses further confirm these experimentally electrochemical findings.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Initial precipitation and hardening mechanism during non-isothermal aging in an Al–Mg–Si–Cu 6005A alloy

The characterization of precipitation and hardening mechanism during non-isothermal aging had been investigated using high resolution transmission electron microscopy for an Al–Mg–Si–Cu 6005A alloy. It was proposed that the needle-shaped β″ precipitates with a three-dimension coherency strain-field and an increased number density in the Al matrix provided the maximum strengthening effect for the Al–Mg–Si–Cu 6005A alloy. Simultaneously, it was also found that the formation and evolution of clusters in the early precipitation were associated with the vacancy binding energy, during which Si atoms played an important role in controlling the numbers density of Mg/Si co-clusters, and the excess Si atoms provided the increased number of nucleation sites for the subsequent precipitates to strengthen and improve the precipitation rate. Finally, based on the experimental observation and theoretical analysis, the precipitation sequence during the early precipitation in the Al–Mg–Si–Cu 6005A alloy was proposed as: supersaturated solid solution → Si-vacancy pairs, Mg-vacancy pairs and Mg clusters → Si clusters, and dissolution of Mg clusters → Mg atoms diffusion into the existing Si clusters → Mg/Si co-clusters → GP zone. - Highlights: • β″ precipitates provide the maximum strengthening effect for the 6005A alloy. • Si atoms play an important role in controlling the numbers of Mg/Si co-clusters. • The early aging sequence is deduced based on the solute-vacancy binding energy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microstructural changes in an extruded Mg−Zn−Y alloy reinforced by quasicrystalline I-phase by small additions of calcium, manganese and cerium-rich mischmetal

The effects of calcium, manganese and cerium-rich mischmetal additions on the microstructure and texture of the extruded Mg−6Zn−1Y (wt.%) alloy have been investigated. The microstructure of the alloys consisted of a magnesium matrix embedding second phase particles aligned along the extrusion direction. The nature and volume fraction of the second phases depended on the alloying element. Thus, Ce-rich mischmetal promoted the formation of T-phase while calcium additions resulted in the formation of a ternary Mg−Zn−Ca compound. Only, manganese additions did not affect the existence of the I-phase present in the ternary alloy. The texture was measured and it was found that calcium addition has a significant effect weakening the extrusion texture. - Highlights: •In-situ HEXRD and DSC techniques are employed to identify phase transformations. •The existence of I-phase is not altered by manganese addition to Mg93Zn6Y1 (wt.%). •Calcium addition promotes Mg{sub 6}Zn{sub 3}Ca{sub 2} formation instead of I-phase. •Mischmetal addition induces the formation of coarse T-phase particles. •Texture depends on the nature of second phases and therefore of the extrusion pressure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microstructure evolution during the precipitation and growth of fully coherent DO{sub 22} superlattice in an Ni-Cr-W alloy

The ordering transformation occurring in a model Ni-Cr-W superalloy during prolonged exposure to proper temperature has been investigated systematically. It is demonstrated that nanometer-sized precipitates with a DO{sub 22} structure can precipitate in the Ni-Cr-W alloy by means of simple aging treatment at 650–700 °C. The mechanism of transformation to DO{sub 22} superlattice has been determined to be continuous ordering based on the results of high resolution transmission electron microscopy investigation and variation trend in Vickers microhardness. Different variants of DO{sub 22} phase can coexist in the matrix with no signs of overaging as aging time increases, indicating it has a high thermal stability. The precipitates of DO{sub 22} superlattice has been found to be of ellipsoidal shape which results in the greatest reduction of strain energy. The interfaces between DO{sub 22} precipitates and matrix have been revealed to be coherent at the atomic scale, resulting in considerable coherency strain attributing to the lattice misfit between DO{sub 22} particle and matrix. Because of the high-density nanometer-sized DO{sub 22} phase, the microhardness of the alloy has been improved remarkably after aging treatment. - Graphical abstract: Different variants of the DO{sub 22} superlattice can coexist in the matrix, and the interface between precipitate and the matrix remain coherence at the atomic scale. The three dimensional form of the DO{sub 22} precipitates constructed from three mutually perpendicular projections is an ellipsoidal stick, and the directions of elongations are along the longest axis of the unit cell for DO{sub 22} phase. - Highlights: •The DO{sub 22} phase precipitated in the Ni-Cr-W alloy has a high thermal stability. •The morphology of DO{sub 22} superlattice has been determined to be ellipsoid. •The interface between DO{sub 22} phase and matrix are fully coherent at the atomic scale. •Different variants of DO{sub 22} phase occur equiprobably. •The alloy strength can be improved dramatically by the nanoscale DO{sub 22} particles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Li-atoms-induced structure changes of Guinier–Preston–Bagaryatsky zones in AlCuLiMg alloys

Guinier–Preston–Bagaryatsky (GPB) zones are the well-known strengthening precipitates of AlCuMg alloys formed upon thermal ageing. Here we report that when formed in AlCuLiMg alloys the GPB zones can change significantly in morphology and structure. It is shown that though they do still consist of Al, Cu and Mg elements fundamentally, the GPB zones in AlCuLiMg alloys have a rather different structure due to a featured Li-segregation at their interfaces with the matrix and possible Li-replacement of partial Mg atoms in the structure. As such the Li-containing GPB zones often develop from one-dimensional to quasi-two-dimensional precipitates. - Highlights: • We observe Guinier–Preston–Bagaryatsky zone variants in AlCuLiMg alloys. • We obtain atomic-resolution images of the precipitates and model their structures. • Li-atoms play a key role in modifying the structure of these precipitate variants.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experiments and Model for Serration Statistics in Low-Entropy, Medium-Entropy, and High-Entropy Alloys

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are new alloys that contain five or more elements in roughly equal proportion. We present new experiments and theory on the deformation behavior of HEAs under slow stretching (straining), and observe differences, compared to conventional alloys with fewer elements. For a specific range of temperatures and strain-rates, HEAs deform in a jerky way, with sudden slips that make it difficult to precisely control the deformation. An analytic model explains these slips as avalanches of slipping weak spots and predicts the observed slip statistics, stress-strain curves, and their dependence on temperature, strain-rate, and material composition. The ratio of the weak spots’ healing rate to the strain-rate is the main tuning parameter, reminiscent of the Portevin-LeChatellier effect and time-temperature superposition in polymers. Our model predictions agree with the experimental results. The proposed widely-applicable deformation mechanism is useful for deformation control and alloys design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Putative quantum criticality in the (Cr{sub 90}Ir{sub 10}){sub 100−y}V{sub y} alloy system

Quantum criticality (QC) in spin-density-wave antiferromagnetic Cr and Cr alloy systems is a topic of current interest. In the present study, V was used as a tuning parameter to drive the Néel transition temperature (T{sub N}) of the (Cr{sub 90}Ir{sub 10}){sub 100−y}V{sub y} alloy series with 0 ≤ y ≤ 14.3 to zero and search for effects of QC in the process. The magnetic properties and possible QC behaviour (QCB) in this alloy system were investigated through electrical resistivity (ρ), specific heat (C{sub p}), and susceptibility (χ) measurements as a function of temperature (T), indicating that T{sub N} is suppressed to zero at a critical concentration y{sub c} ≈ 9. The Sommerfeld coefficient (γ) is considered a key indicator of QCB and a peak is observed in γ(y) at y{sub c} on decreasing y through this concentration, followed by a sharp decreasing trend. This behaviour is reminiscent of that observed for γ of the prototypical Cr{sub 100−x}V{sub x} QC system and allows for the classification of y{sub c} in the (Cr{sub 90}Ir{sub 10}){sub 100−y}V{sub y} alloy system as a possible QC point.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗