Addition Of Si Research Articles

Effect of Si additions on microstructure and properties of TiZrHfNbSix high-entropy alloys as potential biomaterials

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as promising biomaterials owing to their favorable mechanical properties and resistance to corrosion. This investigation focuses on the impact of incorporating Si on the microstructure and properties of TiZrHfNbSix HEAs. The inclusion of Si leads to the formation of complex compositional silicides, showing multiple structures as the Si content varies. At low Si content, the BCC-silicide eutectic structure blocks the expansion of the shear zone during the deformation process, accounting for the increase in strength. The TiZrHfNbSi0.25 alloy presents a balanced combination of yield strength (∼1129 MPa) and plasticity (∼17 %). Additionally, TiZrHfNbSi0.5 exhibited optimal corrosion resistance in Hank's balanced salt solution (Icorr = 1.713 × 10−7 A cm−2, Ecorr = −0.327 V, 310 K) owing to the reduction in the number of protocells brought about by Si. The remarkable properties of TiZrHfNbSix HEAs renders it a highly promising option for application of silicide reinforcement in biomedical materials.

Exploring the local structure of molten Al-Zr-Y(Si) alloys using ab initio molecular dynamics

Accelerating the diffusion rate of Zr in aluminum and suppressing Zr segregation during solidification are crucial for enhancing the heat resistance of Al-Zr alloys. In this study, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the local structure of molten Al-Zr-Y(Si) alloys and the morphology of the liquid/substrate interface. By examining the atomic interactions, the mechanism by which Si addition improves Zr segregation during solidification and accelerates Zr diffusion was revealed. The results indicate that the interaction between Si and Zr is significantly stronger than that with other alloying elements such as Al, Y, and Zr itself. The introduction of Si had a discernible detrimental effect on Zr-Zr bonds, as Zr atoms exhibited a preference for bonding with Si atoms, consequently promoting cluster formation. This phenomenon resulted in the fragmentation of large Zr clusters into smaller ones. Moreover, the inclusion of Si atoms notably augmented the diffusion coefficient of Zr atoms within the Al-Zr-Y alloy. Analysis of the solid-liquid interface unveiled a noteworthy dragging effect, where Si atoms prominently pulled Zr atoms into the liquid phase at the interface's forefront.

Unveiling micro-scale mechanisms of in-situ silicon alloying for tailoring mechanical properties in titanium alloys: Experiments and computational modeling

Titanium-silicon (Ti-Si) alloy system shows significant potential for aerospace and automotive applications due to its superior specific strength, creep resistance, and oxidation resistance. For Si-containing Ti alloys, the sufficient content of Si is critical for achieving these favorable performances, while excessive Si addition will result in mechanical brittleness. Herein, both physical experiments and finite element (FE) simulations are employed to investigate the micro-mechanisms of Si alloying in tailoring the mechanical properties of Ti alloys. Four typical states of Si-containing Ti alloys (solid solution state, hypoeutectoid state, near-eutectoid state, hypereutectoid state) with varying Si content (0.3–1.2 wt.%) were fabricated via in-situ alloying spark plasma sintering. Experimental results indicate that in-situ alloying of 0.6 wt.% Si enhances the alloy's strength and ductility simultaneously due to the formation of fine and uniformly dispersed Ti5Si3 particles, while higher content of Si (0.9 and 1.2 wt.%) results in coarser primary Ti5Si3 agglomerations, deteriorating the ductility. FE simulations support these findings, highlighting the finer and more uniformly distributed Ti5Si3 particles contribute to less stress concentration and promote uniform deformation across the matrix, while agglomerated Ti5Si3 particles result in increased local stress concentrations, leading to higher chances of particle fracture and reduced ductility. This study not only elucidates the micro-mechanisms of in-situ Si alloying for tailoring the mechanical properties of Ti alloys but also aids in optimizing the design of high-performance Ti alloys.

Long-term oxidation resistance of CrAl(Si)N coatings deposited on TiAl-based alloy at 950 °C

CrAl(Si)N coatings were deposited on Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb alloy by arc ion plating. Long-term cyclic oxidation behaviors of the CrAl(Si)N-coated alloy were investigated at 950 °C. The oxidation resistance of the Cr0.4Al0.5Si0.1N coating was significantly better than that of the Cr0.5Al0.5N coating. The addition of Si to the CrAlN coating promoted the formation of an almost continuous inner Al2O3 layer in the oxide scale. The continuous and dense Cr2O3/Al2O3 oxide layer acted as a diffusion barrier and retarded the inward diffusion of oxygen and outward diffusion of the coating elements. However, interdiffusion between the CrAl(Si)N coatings and the alloy was serious and a thick interdiffusion zone formed.

Role of Si element in the IMC formation and tensile-shear property of the laser welding-brazing steel-Al dissimilar joints

A comparative investigation was conducted to explore the role of Si in the intermetallic compound (IMC) formation and tensile-shear property of steel-Al joints fabricated via laser welding-brazing (LWB) technique. Three filler wires including ER5356, ER4043 and ER4047 were employed to join the DP780 steel and 5754 Al alloy. The results exhibited that the presence of Si could improve the tensile-shear property of steel-Al joints. With increasing the Si addition, the failure locations of the joints changed from the interface, weld metal to Al alloy base metal. For the joints fabricated with ER5356 filler, the IMCs consisted of Fe2Al5 and Fe4Al13. On the contrary, Fe4(Al, Si)13 and Al8Fe2Si was detected for the joints prepared with ER4043 and ER4047 filler wires. The Si could suppress the generation of brittle Fe2Al5. In addition, Fe4(Al, Si)13 and Al8Fe2Si could resist the crack propagation, guaranteeing the qualified tensile-shear strength of the joints.

Unveiling the precipitation behavior and mechanical properties in G-phase strengthened CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six multi-principal element alloys

In order to develop Co-free CrFeNi based multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) with good synergies between strength and plasticity, the effects of Si content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six (x = 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5 and 0.625) MPEAs are studied in this work. The results show that the addition of Si induces a phase transformation from a single-phase face-centered cubic (FCC) structure to a dual-phase structure, comprising an FCC solid solution phase and G-phase. The outcomes from phase formation theory and phase diagram calculations (CALPHAD) also confirm that CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six MPEAs are prone to form dual-phase structures. With increasing Si content, the yield strength and hardness of the alloys increase by 47.2 % and 57.3 %, respectively, while still maintaining a strain of 34.2 %, which is indicative of commendable overall mechanical properties. This is ascribed to the coherence between FCC matrix and G-phase, enabling an enhancement in strength concurrently with the retention of considerable plasticity. Moreover, grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening play a dominant role in the strengthening of CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six MPEAs. The present work offers new insights for the further development of high-performance non-metallic MPEAs, so as to achieve a combination of targeted microstructures and excellent properties.

Effect of Al–Zr and Si–Zr atomic pairs on phases, microstructure and mechanical properties of Si-alloyed (Ti28Zr40Al20Nb12)100-xSix(x=1, 3, 5, 10) high entropy alloys

The phases, microstructure, and mechanical properties of Si-alloyed (Ti28Zr40Al20Nb12)100-xSix(x = 1, 3, 5, 10) high entropy alloys are studied. Although silicides were not detected in the as-cast 1 at. % Si-alloyed sample, after annealing all the four alloys have the same phase composition: the Zr5Al3-type phase, Zr5Si3-type silicides, and the BCC/B2 dual-phase matrix, indicating that 1 at. % Si addition is adequate for the formation of silicides in equilibrium. The phase morphologies show a dependence on the Si content and the cooling rate, which changed from the occurrence of columnar grain zones together with coarse dendrites of the as-cast 1 at. % Si-alloyed alloy to four different cooling-rate-related morphologies in the other three as-cast alloys. After heat treatment, differently shaped precipitates tend to aggregate and spherize, and a three-step-shaped phase morphology is observed when the Si content is above 5 at. %. All precipitates are rich in Zr due to either the strong Si–Zr pair or Al–Zr pair, but heterogeneous distributions of Si and Al exist. An increase of the Si content led to a gradual decrease of the compressive strength in both as-cast and annealed samples, yet the total fracture strain does not show monotonously decrease trend. 5 at. % Si-alloyed samples possessed a higher total fracture strain than the 3 at. % Si-alloyed samples.

Exploring the effect of Si content in Cr coating on its microstructure and properties

Four CrSi coatings with varying Si content ranging from 2 at.% to 9 at.% were deposited on the both surface of Zr-4 substrate. This study systematically investigated the effect of Si content on microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and high-temperature oxidation resistance. Due to the lower Si content, only the Cr phase was detected in the CrSi coating, with Si existing in solid-solution. Therefore, all CrSi coatings exhibited good mechanical and hydrophobic properties. The addition of Si in the Cr coating significantly reduces the surface roughness compared with Cr coating. During the long-term autoclave test (30-day, 60-day and 90-day) at 320 °C and 11.3 MPa, CrSi coatings demonstrated superior corrosion resistance attributed to the effective inhibition of further Si dissolution by the dense and continuous Cr2O3 layer forming on the surface. Additionally, after exposure to high-temperature oxidation at 1200 °C for 30 min, all CrSi coatings protect the substrate from oxidation. However, only the Cr0.91Si0.09 coating internally formed a dense and continuous in-situ Zr2Si diffusion barrier layer, which effectively reduce the Cr/Zr inter-diffusion, and sufficient Si prevent the outwards diffusion of Cr by forming Cr3Si boundary. The corrosion and oxidation mechanism have been studied in detail.

Influence of Cu and Si on the microstructure and properties of CoCrFeNiCu1-xSix alloys

The effect of Cu and Si on the microstructure and properties of CoCrFeNiCu1-xSix alloys (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1) was studied in this work. The results indicate that as the x value increased from 0 to 1, the phase compositions of CoCrFeNiCu1-xSix alloys evolved from FCC + Cu-rich phases to FCC + Cu-rich + NiSi-rich phases to FCC + BCC + NiSi-rich phases. Therefore, the decrease in Cu content led to the decreasing Cu-rich phase content, whereas Si addition not only favored the formation of intermetallic compounds, but also promoted the phase transition from FCC to BCC. Due to the competition between BCC phase suppressing corrosion and Cu-rich + NiSi-rich phases inducing galvanic corrosion, the corrosion resistance of CoCrFeNiCu1-xSix alloys improved with the increasing x value. The microstructure change also resulted in an improvement in hardness and wear resistance, and a deterioration in fracture toughness of CoCrFeNiCu1-xSix alloys. Moreover, the main wear mechanism evolved from adhesive wear and abrasive wear to slight abrasive wear. Comparison among five alloys indicates that Cu0.2Si0.8 alloy exhibited the excellent comprehensive properties, revealed by the corrosion current density of 4.81 × 10−8 A/cm2, the hardness value of 510.5 HV, the fracture toughness of 8.57 MPa·m1/2 and the wear rate of 0.88 mm3·N−1 · m−1.

Activation/ Deactivation of Surface States of Heterostructure (Anatese-TiO2/Au) Via Addition of Materials with High Band Gap, Rutile TiO2 (R-TiO2) or Low Band Gap Silicon (Si), and Fabrication Strategy

The addition of high band gap or low band gap material not only modulates the optical absorption cross-section but also affects the surface state reactivity of heterostructure towards the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Further, the deposition strategy to assemble the heterostructure also affects the effectiveness of the heterostructure. To explore such issues, we fabricated the two sets of heterostructures containing (A-TiO2, R-TiO2) and (Si, A-TiO2) via the click chemistry approach through two different strategies, i.e., layer-by-layer heterostructure (LLH), and randomly deposited heterostructure. In LLH strategy, only the addition of high band gap material R-TiO2 enhances the reactivity of the surface states. On the other hand, the addition of the low band gap material Silicon (Si) hampers the reactivity of the surface states of the heterostructure deposited via the LLH. Further, by changing the deposition strategy to RDH, the reactivity of surface states diminishes by adding either the high band gap or the low band gap material. These observations were rationalized from the framework of band structure/band-alignment in the heterostructure and also via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).In LLH, the addition of the A-TiO2 quenches electrons from the conduction band (CB) of R-TiO2, and the holes of A-TiO2 are transferred to R-TiO2. The holes from R-TiO2 participate in activating the surface states present at the surface. On the other hand, the addition of silicon to LLH, having CB above the CB of A-TiO2, does not allow the electrons to transfer from A-TiO2 to Si; hence, the CB electrons from A-TiO2 transfer to surface states, which enhances the energy level of surface states, making it more negative than the VB of Si. The negative shift of surface states of A-TiO2 makes it the recombination center. Interestingly, changing the fabrication strategy from LLH to RDH makes the nature of surface states from reactive to recombination states due to the interfacing of all materials with the underlying substrates.EIS was utilized to measure and analyze the low-frequency capacitance due to the reactive surface state. The low-frequency capacitance of LLH with A-TiO2 shows the maxima at onset potential, confirming the role of reactive surface states. On the contrary, low-frequency capacitance increases monotonically for LLH with Si addition, showing the effect of recombination surface states. Overall, the study provides pointers on the interplay between band positions and electron-hole separation in heterostructures and how they can be effectively used to enhance surface reactivity in PEC water splitting.

Effect of Ash and Sulphate on Corrosion of Ni-Based Alloys in a Simulated Oxyfuel Combustion Environment

AbstractAlloys of Ni–25Cr–(2Mn–1Si) under mixed deposits of ash + (0, 10, 50 and 90) wt% sulphate were exposed to an Ar–60CO2–20H2O gas at 650 and 750 °C for up to 300 h, forming both protective chromia and regions of Ni-rich oxide. The presence of ash + sulphate mixtures improved Ni–25Cr alloy protection, increasing surface coverage by thin, protective chromia compared with the deposit-free condition. Increasing sulphate proportions in these mixtures led to an accelerated chromia scale growth and reduced internal oxidation zone (IOZ). These beneficial effects were more significant at 750 °C, where surface coverage by the protective scale was increased, and a chromia band was formed beneath nonprotective regions at the IOZ-substrate interface. Alloy additions of Mn and Si generally slowed the growth of outer NiO and IOZ but did not lead to exclusive chromia scale formation.

Effect of silicon on the distribution and speciation of uranium in sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) can potentially be used for uranium (U) phytoremediation. However, the factors influencing the absorption of U and its subsequent distribution within plant tissues remain unclear, including the effect of silicon (Si) which is known to increase metal tolerance. Here, using hydroponics, the effect of Si on the distribution and speciation of U in sunflower was examined using synchrotron-based X–ray fluorescence and fluorescence-X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy. It was found that ∼88 % of U accumulates within the root regardless of treatments. Without the addition of Si, most of the U appeared to bind to epidermis within the roots, whereas in the leaves, U primarily accumulated in the veins. The addition of Si alleviated U phytotoxicity and decreased U concentration in sunflower by an average of 60 %. In the roots, Si enhanced U distribution in cell walls and impeded its entry into cells, likely due to increased callose deposition. In the leaves, Si induced the sequestration of U in trichomes. However, Si did not alter U speciation and U remained in the hexavalent form. These results provide information on U accumulation and distribution within sunflower, and suggest that Si could enhance plant growth under high U stress.

Analysis of the Influence of Additions of Flux, SiO2, and Al2O3, on the Desulfurization Efficiency of Hot Metal Using Global Desulfurization Factor

The formation of the solid phases CaS, 3CaO.SiO2 and CaO.Al2O3 around the lime particle decreases the efficiency of desulfurization by the kanbara reactor (KR) process. The addition of fluxes reduces the formation of these phases. The addition of Al and Si can also have this effect, depending on the added levels. In this study, different mixtures based on CaO with different levels of fluorspar, sodalite (Nepheline Syenite), and SiO2 and Al2O3 content were studied and used in the desulfurization process of hot metal. These mixtures were added to a bath of liquid hot metal at 1400 °C. All experiments were performed with mechanical agitation. Samples were taken at times of 5, 10, 15, and 20 min, and analyses were performed to evaluate the variation of sulfur over time. The Thermo‐Calc software was used to determine the formed phases, solid fraction, and liquid fraction of the different mixtures. With this data, different values of the Global Desulfurization Factor (FGDeS) were calculated, which was developed to evaluate and predict the efficiency of hot metal desulfurizing mixtures by the KR process. The results of showed that fluorspar was more efficient than sodalite. The FGDeS had a correlation factor (R2) above 0.9 with the desulfurization efficiency.

Effect of Si Addition on the Mechanical Properties and Material Structure of Al-Zn-Mg Alloys

Effect of Si Addition on the Mechanical Properties and Material Structure of Al-Zn-Mg Alloys

Role of Surface Tension on Heat Feedback and Power from Energetic Composites.

Heat feedback to the unburned reaction interface is an important controlling factor of the velocity of the reaction front and power delivery. In this paper, we investigate the effect of agglomerate surface tension and its relationship to surface residence time and heat feedback on the combustion characteristics by Si addition to an Al/KClO4 composite. Macroscopic imaging demonstrates a significant increase in burn rate with the addition of Si despite the fact that Si/KClO4 has a slightly lower energy density than Al/KClO4. Microscopic imaging coupled with three-color pyrometry reveals that molten liquid forms and evolves into spherical droplets on the burning surface, which are subsequently ejected from the surface. We find that the addition of Si results in a small increase in droplet size and a negligible impact on droplet temperature. However, the droplet formation rate on the surface is slower, leading to a significantly longer surface residence time. This leads to enhanced conductive heat feedback to the unburnt materials, thereby increasing the burn rate and energy release rate. We attribute the decreased droplet growth rate to the lowered surface tension of the liquid mixture with Si addition. This study highlights the crucial role of agglomerate physical property (e.g., surface tension) in influencing the combustion behavior of energetic composites.

Influence of different silicon oxide coatings on the electrochemical properties of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Silicon monoxide (SiO) has gained popularity as an anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity, moderate operating potential (0.4 V), low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, its large volume expansion (200 %) during charging and discharging, along with low electrical conductivity, limits its application. SiO@X composites with different cladding coatings were prepared. The results show that the composites with Si and Ti additions have discharge capacities of 1105.62 mAh g−1 and 994.09 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, respectively, and their capacity retention rates are significantly greater than those of the other three composites.

Synergistic Effects of Silicon and Aspartic Acid on the Alleviation of Salt Stress in Celery (Apium graveliens L.) "Si Ji Xiao Xiang Qin".

Salinity is one of the primary abiotic stresses that seriously hampers plant quality and productivity. It is feasible to reduce or reverse the negative effects of salt through the supplementation of silicon (Si) and aspartic acid (Asp). However, the question of how exogenous Si and Asp induce salt tolerance in celery remains incipient. Thus, this study was performed to determine the synergistic effects of Si and Asp on the alleviation of salt stress in celery. To this end, the celery plants were cultivated in a controlled regime (light for 14 h at 22 °C; darkness for 10 h at 16 °C) and treated with one of five treatments (CK, 100 mM NaCl, 100 mM NaCl + 75 mg/L Si, 100 mM NaCl + 100 mg/L Asp, and 100 mM NaCl + 75 mg/L Si + 100 mg/L Asp). Results showed that solely NaCl-treated celery plants developed salt toxicity, as characterized by decreased growth, declined photosynthetic ability, disturbed nutritious status and internal ion balance, and a boosted antioxidant defense system (Improved antioxidant enzymes and reduced ROS accumulation). In contrast, these adverse effects of NaCl were ameliorated by the additions of Si and Asp, regardless of Si, Asp, or both. Moreover, the mitigatory impacts of the co-application of Si and Asp on salt stress were more pronounced compared to when one of them was solely applied. Collectively, exogenous Si and Asp alleviate the degree of salt stress and thereby improve the salt tolerance of celery.

Stabilization Effect of Interfacial Solute Segregation on θ′ Precipitates in Al-Cu Alloys

The effects of Sc, Mg and Si elements in an Al-Cu alloy have been studied by means of hardness tests and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The experimental results show that additions of Sc, Mg and Si can improve the heat resistance of the Al-Cu alloy. The Sc/Mg/Si segregation-sandwiched structure is the most stable, when compared with Sc segregation or Si/Sc co-segregation at the interface of θ′/Al. The additions of Si and Mg promote the aging–hardening response of the Al-Cu alloy. Mg is a micro-alloying element with great potential in stabilizing the size of θ′ phases, which further promotes the number density greatly. Consequently, the Al-Cu alloy achieves a high strength, matched with excellent thermal stability, due to the microalloying of Sc/Mg/Si solutes.

Dilatometric study on phase transformations in non-deformed and plastically deformed medium-Mn multiphase steels with increased Al and Si additions

AbstractIn this work, two novel alloys containing 4 and 5 mass.% Mn were subjected to theoretical calculations using JMatPro software and experimental studies using dilatometry in order to determine their critical temperatures and ranges of phase transformations of supercooled austenite in undeformed and deformed states. The differences in the kinetics of phase transformations and final microstructures were observed using a light microscope and compared for both investigated alloys. The Mn addition had a strong effect on reducing the Ac3 and Ms temperatures. The plastic deformation applied prior cooling affected the Ms temperature of investigated alloys and kinetics of phase transformations. Both investigated alloys showed high hardenability in the deformed and non-deformed states; and therefore, they can be used as good candidates for products obtained via the Quenching and Partitioning process. Investigated alloys can be used both for sheets and plates of increased thickness because the homogeneous martensitic microstructure can be obtained in a wide range of cooling rates during quenching. The obtained results show a wide technological window for the investigated alloys in producing sheets and plates via the Quenching and Partitioning process.

Effect of trace alloying elements on stress relaxation properties of high strength and high conductivity C19160 alloy

The addition of Si in a Cu–Ni–P–Pb (C19160) alloy has been fabricated by atmospheric smelting to approach high strength, high conductivity, and high-stress relaxation resistance. The addition of Si inhibited the coarsening and phase transition of Ni5P4. The fine Ni5P4 particles were dispersed in the matrix, which pinned dislocations and improved the studied alloy's strength and stress relaxation resistance. After homogenization at 900 °C for 4 h, cold rolled by 70 %, aging treatment at 450 °C for 1 h, cold rolled by 60 %, aging treatment at 400 °C for 45 min, cold rolled by 60 %, annealing treatment at 200 °C for 1 h, the C19160-0.1Si alloy shows an ultimate tensile strength of 705 MPa, electrical conductivity of 53.8%IACS, and a stress relaxation rate of 17.8 % after tested at 150 °C for 100 h. These findings have guiding significance for developing C19160 alloys with high strength, high conductivity, and high-stress relaxation resistance.