Alloy Samples Research Articles

EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT OVER THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND THE RESISTANCE TO CORROSION OF THE TERNARY Cu-Al-Ag ALLOY

Abstract In the present work, the manufacture of a Cu-9Al-3Ag alloy was carried out easily through a green molding process. After dimensioning and slitting, the alloy samples were subjected to quenching, normalizing, and annealing heat treatments, to exert phase transformations that would, in return, aid into clarifying the influence of the phases present on the mechanical properties, such as hardness, as well as the behavior when exposed to a commonly known mildly corrosive media such as NaCl. The results obtained reveal an increase in hardness (assessed through either HRB) and (microhardness HV) in the quenched and annealed sample, as well as better corrosion resistance. The characterization was carried out through optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), potentiodynamic polarization tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Evaluation of surface properties of modified Ti6Al4V alloy with copper nanoparticles organic nanostructure for biomedical applications: dependency on anticorrosive, antibacterial, and biocompatibility

Abstract In this study, a novel multifunctional copper nanoparticle CuNPs in the organic biomatrix was coated to the surface of Ti6Al4V to create multifunctional features. The synthesis of CuNPs was carried out by plant-mediated green synthesis method obtained from Moringa leaf extract, and the prepared CuNPs were coated on the substrate surfaces as single and double layers with drop casting methods. Characterizations of the synthesized CuNPs were performed by UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, and SEM methods. Characterization of the modified Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces was performed using SEM-EDS and surface roughness analysis. The electrochemical corrosion, antibacterial behavior, and cytotoxic effects of coated and noncoated Ti6Al4V as a function of biocompatibility properties were also tested. The synthesized CuNPs have a homogeneously dispersed spherical shape. Biocorrosion tests have clearly demonstrated that the coating forms a protective film on the substrate surface, and the resistance increased by 49 %. Antibacterial results show that the single and double-coated Ti6Al4V alloy samples with CuNPs organic nanostructure had improved biocompatibility. However, it was determined that the cytotoxic effect increases proportionally with the coating. The obtained results show the importance of surface modification in the appropriate nanostructure to obtain multifunctional nanoplatforms that show promise in biomedical applications.

The Thermomechanical, Functional and Biocompatibility Properties of a Au–Pt–Ge Alloy for PFM Dental Restorations

A high-noble Au–Pt–Ge porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) dental alloy without the known adverse metallic elements and with the addition of germanium (Ge) was produced as a more cost-effective alternative to other precious alloying metals, with investigations for determining the functionality and clinical use of this alloy. The thermomechanical, biocompatibility, durability, workability and economic characteristics of the produced dental alloy were investigated. These properties were investigated with in vitro biocompatibility testing on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs); static immersion testing for metal ion release; DSC analysis; hardness, tensile testing, density and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) measurements; metallographic and SEM/EDX microstructure investigations; and finally with the production of a test PFM dental bridge. The results of the thermomechanical testing showed alloy properties suitable for dental restorations and clinical use, with somewhat lower mechanical properties, making the alloy not suitable for extensive multiunit fixed restorations. The microstructure investigations showed segregations of Ge in the homogeneous alloy matrix, which reduce the alloy’s mechanical properties. The produced PFM dental bridge showed excellent workability of the alloy in a dental laboratory setting, as well as a high standard of the final dental restoration. The ion release was negligible, well below any harmful quantities, while the cell viability examination showed significantly higher viability ratings on polished alloy samples as compared to as-cast samples. The results showed that a dental substructure in direct contact with oral tissue and fluids should be highly polished. The performed investigations showed that the produced PFM dental alloy is suitable for clinical use in producing high-quality dental restorations with high biocompatibility for patients prone to metal allergies.

Trade-Off Between Wear/Corrosion Performance and Mechanical Properties in D-AlNiCo Poly-Quasicrystals Through CNT Addition to the Microstructure

An ultrafine-grained Al71Ni14.5Co14.5/CNT poly-quasicrystal (QC/CNT) composite was synthesized using spark plasma sintering of powder components developed through electroless Ni-P/CNT plating of Co particles and mechanical alloying. The performance of the synthesized samples was studied using various testing methods, such as room temperature/hot compression, wear, and corrosion tests. The results were compared to the properties of alloy samples fabricated from raw and coated powders (without CNTs). The wear rate and friction coefficient of the quasicrystalline samples improved significantly due to the contribution of the CNTs. The wear rate of the CNT-containing specimens was 0.992 × 10−4 mm3/N/m, which is 47.1% lower than that of the QC sample. The positive impact of the CNTs on the corrosion potential and current density was further validated by the potentiodynamic polarization tests in a saline solution. However, these improvements in surface properties came at the cost of a 21.5% reduction in compressive strength, although the compressive strength still remained above 1.1 GPa at 600 °C. The results highlight an interesting trade-off between surface properties and mechanical strength, pointing toward the development of materials suitable for extreme conditions.

Numerical investigation of patch geometry effect on the fatigue life of aluminum panels containing cracks repaired with CFRP composite patch using XFEM and CZM approach

This study investigated numerically the effect of using composite patches with various geometric shapes to improve the fatigue life of aluminum panels of AA7075-T6 and AA2024-T3 containing cracks and compared with the available experimental results. The Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) and Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) were applied to static and fatigue analyses. Four types of rectangular, trapezoidal, left-oriented triangular and right-oriented triangular composite patches were used in the numerical analysis. With the combination of XFEM and CZM methods, and using the Paris equation, the fatigue crack propagation and fatigue life of aluminum panels containing cracks can be reasonably predicted. A composite patch with a suitable shape and geometry, fatigue life of the repaired panel can be improved considerably. With a 204 % improvement in fatigue life in comparison to the unrepaired panel, the repaired sample made of aluminum alloy AA2024-T3 alloy achieved the most significant improvement in fatigue life. In AA7075-T6 alloy samples repaired with composite patches, the samples repaired with rectangular and trapezoidal patches experienced the highest fatigue life increases, respectively with 342 % and 290 % compared to the unrepaired samples. The comparison of numerical simulation results with the available experiment results shows a good agreement.

Ultralow magnetic susceptibility in pure and Fe(Bi)-doped Au-Pt alloys improved by structural strain regulation

Designing and manufacturing multi-component alloy samples with ultralow magnetic susceptibilityχ(<10-6cm3mol-1) is crucial for producing high-quality test masses to successfully detect gravitational wave in the LISA and TianQin projects. Previous research has idenfified AuPt alloys as a potential candidate for test masses, capable of achieving ultralow magnetic susceptibility that meets the requirements from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. In this study, we discover that the structural strain regulation (i.e. tensile and stress) can effectively optimize and further reduce the ultralow magnetic susceptibility of AuPt allpys, while fully understanding their underlying physical mechanisms. More importantly, even when doped with trace elements such as Fe or Bi impurity, strain regulation can still effectively reduce the magnetic susceptibility of the doped AuPt alloy to the desired range. Our theoretical calculations also reveal that, when the strain ratioηis controlled within in a relatively small range (<2.0%), the regulaton effect on the ultralow magnetic susceptibilities of pure or doped-AuPt alloys remains significant. This property is beneficial for achieving ultralow or even near-zero magnetic susceptibility in real AuPt alloy samples.

Precontouring as a Tool to Improve the Laser Powder Bed Fusion Printability of Inconel939 Thin Walls

This work investigates the influence of adding a contour scan prior to hatching (precontouring) on the printability of Inconel 939 thin‐wall sections produced by laser powder bed fusion. Walls with thicknesses ranging from 500 to 1500 μm, manufactured with two hatch scanning parameter sets that give rise to different microstructures and very high density in bulk samples of the same alloy, are investigated. It is shown that, while the texture as well as the grain size and shape is only influenced moderately by the contour scanning strategy, precontouring does lead to a significant reduction of the melt pool depth, an effect that is increasingly pronounced with decreasing wall thickness. This work highlights the role of the precontour scan as a heat sink, shifting the normalized enthalpy input toward lower values and thus limiting the accumulation of excess heat. Precontouring is put forward as a scanning strategy to improve the manufacturability of thin sections.

Electrodeposition of Thin Film Cu-Zn-Sn Alloy for Water Splitting Application

An energy transition to renewable energy sources is necessary due to the scarcity of fossil fuels and their detrimental effects on the environment. Water splitting process is one of the practical and effective way that does not occur spontaneously. This study investigates catalytic activity of Cu-Zn-Sn (CZT) photocatalyst in hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reaction. The CZT deposited with varied electrolyte’s pH of 6 and 9 on indium tin oxide substrate at the room temperature for 600 seconds. According to the X-ray diffraction patterns, there were Cu6Sn5, Cu5Zn8, and Sn metal phases with monoclinic, cubic, and cubic crystal systems. The scanning electron microscopy technique results of all CZT alloy sample showed a dense, non-uniform, and polycrystalline surface structure. The CZT alloys were found to have an average particle size of 0.35 μm. CZT alloys can produce a photocurrent density of 0.19 mA/cm² at a potential of 1.29 V vs RHE. the charge transfer resistance of CZT synthesized at pH 6 is lower (21.48 Ω) compared to pH 9 (28.36 Ω). The Tafel slope of HER for pH 9 CZT was -133 mV/dec, which was lower than that of pH 6 CZT (-88 mV/dec), indicating faster H2 production and corrosion resistance on pH 9 CZT.

Micro abrasion in Fe-Cr-C-Nb alloys samples: The role of niobium

This paper addresses to analyze the role played by Niobium (Nb) in the microstructure of Fe-Cr-C alloys being tested in micro abrasion conditions (ball abrasion test). Three alloys with differences in Cr content and one of them with 5% Nb have been prepared as weld tracks under Fe-C substrate. The resulting microstructures contain carbides embedding in a metallic matrix (MMC). Significant changes in mechanical properties are expected depending on the morphology, size and distribution of carbides. Results pointed out to an improvement in wear resistance of Fe-Cr-C-Nb alloy although it showed lower values of hardness and volume fraction of carbides in comparison to the other alloys. The coefficient of friction was also affected by Nb addition. Such results evidence the possibility of using such alloy in applications that require high performance in wear resistance as mining and agriculture equipment.

Formation of structural-phase state of Ti–Al materials with Hf-additives obtained by hydride technology

The paper describes the structural and phase composition of TiHf50, AlHf50, TiAl49Hf2 composite materials obtained by the “hydride” technology. A three-component phase diagram for Ti-Al-Hf at 1150°C is constructed. The structural state of TiAl49Hf2 alloys was predicted based on reference lattices found in the USPEX code with the VASP interface; quantum-chemical calculations of the TiAl49Hf2 energy were additionally performed in the CASTEP code. It is shown that solid solutions dominate in the TiAl49Hf2 alloy sample, in which the main elements dominate: Al10 – Ti9Al23 – Ti8. Hf atoms can be introduced into the interstitial sites [-0.257 0.042 0.2545] (St-Hf-27), [0.0053 -0.0120 -0.0765] (St-Hf-143), [0.5 0.5 0.5] (St-Hf). The introduction of hafnium into the specified lattice sites does not violate the stabilizing effect in the TiAl49Hf2 systems. It is shown that the maximum microhardness value (4.9 GPa) was obtained when testing the TiHf50 sample (for comparison: for the TiAl50 system – 1.2 GPa, for the TiAl49Hf2 system – 2.2 GPa).

Effect of process parameters on microstructure and properties of W-Ti-Zr-Nb tungsten alloy fabricated by LPBF

A novel tungsten alloy with the composition 73W-9Ti-9Zr-9Nb was successfully fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). This study investigates the relationship between process parameters and the microstructure, defects, phases and mechanical properties of the alloy. The results revealed that with an increase in the laser power (P) from 50 to 100 W, the number of unmelted W particles decreased, transitioning the microstructure of the as-fabricated samples from W particles embedded in the Ti-Zr-Nb matrix to W dendrites within the Ti-Zr-Nb-W matrix. Simultaneously, the porosity decreased from 20.1 % to 0.1 % as the P increased. There was no W2Zr brittle phase in W-Ti-Zr-Nb, and the interface between the W particles, W dendrites, and the matrix was well-bonded. the interfaces between the W particles, W dendrites, and the matrix were well-bonded. As a result of these optimized processing conditions, the sample processed at a P of 100 W exhibited optimal overall performance, achieving a microhardness of 612.8 HV and an ultimate compressive strength of 2410 MPa. Increasing the laser power improved the overall performance of the material by reducing defects, increasing the proportion of dendrites, and enhancing solution strengthening.

Investigation of the corrosion behavior of 29NC alloy in LiCl-KCl melt at 500 oC depending on the content of Li2O and LiOH from 0 to 2 mol. %

Molten chloride salt electrolytes are promising for use as a working medium for the implementation of high-temperature technologies. Alkali metal chlorides are an aggressive environment in relation to structural materials. One of the possible methods of reducing the corrosion damage of a structural material is the method of oxygen passivation of the surface of a metal or alloy by introducing a certain amount of oxygen-containing additives into the melt. The article considers the effect of oxygen-containing impurities (lithium oxide and lithium hydroxide) on the corrosive behavior of a metal material — an alloy of the composition iron–cobalt–nickel. To assess the corrosion resistance of materials, gravimetric analysis, micro-X-ray spectral analysis (XRSA) of the surface and cross-section sections, and X-ray phase analysis (XRF) of the sample surface were used. The dependences of the corrosion rate of the material on the concentration of oxygen-containing additives Li2O and LiOH are presented. Based on the data set of gravimetric, MRSA and XRF data, it was found that 29NC alloy samples in the LiCl–KCl–nLi2O salt melt are not susceptible to corrosion, but in the LiCl–KCl–nLiOH melt, the speed of the 29NC alloy increases significantly due to the interaction of the LiOH additive with the most electronegative component of the alloy — iron.

Corrosion Properties of the Composite Coatings Formed on PEO Pretreated AlMg3 Aluminum Alloy by Dip-Coating in Polyvinylidene Fluoride-Polytetrafluoroethylene Suspension.

This paper presents the results of an evaluation of corrosion properties of PEO pretreated AlMg3 aluminum alloy samples with polymer coatings obtained by dip-coating in a suspension of superdispersed polytetrafluoroethylene (SPTFE) in a solution of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone at different PVDF:SPTFE ratios (1:1, 1:3, 1:5, and 1:10). The electrochemical tests showed that samples with a coating formed at a ratio of PVDF to SPTFE of 1:5 possessed the best corrosion properties. The corrosion current density of these samples was more than five orders of magnitude lower than this parameter for bare aluminum alloy. During the 40-day salt spray test (SST) for samples prepared in a suspension at a PVDF:SPTFE ratio of 1:1-1:5, the formation of any pittings or defects was not detected. The PVDF:SPTFE 1:5 sample demonstrated, as a result of the 40-day SST, an increase in corrosion current density of less than an order of magnitude. The evolution of the protective properties of the studied samples was assessed by a two-year field atmospheric corrosion test on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It was revealed that the samples with the PVDF:SPTFE 1:5 coating had electrochemical parameters that remained consistently high throughout the one year of exposure. After this period, the polymer layer was destroyed, which led to a deterioration in the protective characteristics of the coatings.

Investigation on the reaction of sulphur with Ag–Cu–Zn-Ge alloy: Experimental and computational study

Silver and its alloys undergo tarnishing with time, which is a black stain on the surface due to the formation of Ag2S. Developing a tarnish resistant Ag alloy was attempted by alloying Ag with elements that form a passive oxide layer on the surface. Germanium is proven to provide better tarnish resistance to sterling Silver alloy (92.5 wt% pure) which is available under the trade name of Argentium©. The present work investigates the tarnish resistance behavior of sterling silver alloy (92.5 wt% pure) containing various additions of Copper, Zinc, and Germanium. The alloys were prepared by melting and casting route, followed by Passivation Heat Treatment (PHT) to create a stable and continuous oxide layer. The temperature for PHT was optimized using thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) of the alloys prepared. Accelerated tarnish test was carried out to investigate the tarnishing behavior of alloy samples obtained before and after PHT. The samples were characterized using XRD, SEM-EDX, and micro-Raman Spectroscopy. The change in reflectance of the samples after tarnish test is determined using UV–Visible reflectance spectroscopy. The mechanism behind the tarnish resistance was derived using Density Functional Theory (DFT) by comparing sulphur (S2) and Oxygen (O2) adsorption energies (BE) of the alloying elements. The lower value of S2 (BE)/O2 (BE) indicates better oxidation and tarnish resistance. The ratio ranges between 222 % (Pure Ag) and 132 % (for Ag-4.2Cu-2.8Zn-1.4Ge) and the p-p between Ge and O has contributed to the reduction in the ratio.

Effects of Build Direction and Heat Treatment on the Defect Characterization and Fatigue Properties of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Ti6Al4V

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the high-precision additive manufacturing techniques for producing complex 3D components. It is well known that defects appear in additive-manufactured parts, and they deeply affect the fatigue properties; even heat treatment is performed after printing. In order to meet the safe-life design requirements of additive-manufactured aircraft structures, the effects of build direction and heat treatment on defects and fatigue properties need to be quantified. Hence, Ti6Al4V alloy samples with different build directions were designed and printed by LPBF. X-ray computed tomography was used to quantitatively analyze the defect size, the sphericity, and the defect orientation. And their effects on fatigue properties were studied. An extended effective defect size and a defect-based fatigue anisotropy evaluation process are proposed to qualify the effects of the defect size, sphericity, and defect orientation. It is shown that the build direction can affect the porosity distribution and maximum defect size, while the annealing treatment can cause the coalescence of small defects and higher porosity. The defect orientation exhibited a fluctuating trend of 0°–90°–0°–90°–0° as the volume increased. The elongated lack of fusion defects related to the build direction was the main crack source and could lead to fatigue anisotropy of LPBF Ti6Al4V.

Atomic structure of different surface terminations of polycrystalline ZnPd

The intermetallic compound ZnPd has been found to have desirable characteristics as a catalyst for the steam reforming of methanol. The understanding of the surface structure of ZnPd is important to optimize its catalytic behavior. However, due to the lack of bulk single-crystal samples and the complexity of characterizing surface properties in the available polycrystalline samples using common experimental techniques, all previous surface science studies of this compound have been performed on surface alloy samples formed through thin-film deposition. In this study, we present findings on the chemical and atomic structure of the surfaces of bulk polycrystalline ZnPd studied by a variety of complementary experimental techniques, including scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low energy electron microscopy (LEEM), photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM), and microspot low-energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED). These experimental techniques, combined with density functional theory (DFT)-based thermodynamic calculations of surface free energy and detachment kinetics at the step edges, confirm that surfaces terminated by atomic layers composed of both Zn and Pd atoms are more stable than those terminated by only Zn or Pd layers. DFT calculations also demonstrate that the primary contribution to the tunneling current arises from Pd atoms, in agreement with the STM results. The formation of intermetallics at surfaces may contribute to the superior catalyst properties of ZnPd over Zn or Pd elemental counterparts. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Magnetic hysteresis of Sm1-x Gdx Co3 Cu2 alloys

The paper presents the results of a comprehensive study of the hysteresis characteristics of Sm1−𝑥Gd𝑥Co3Cu2 alloys (x=0.1–0.9), considering their actual microstructure. It is shown that in the as-cast state, all alloys in the series are significantly heterogeneous and contain inclusions of up to three phase components. Hightemperature annealing at 1050∘C for 4 hours enables modifying the microstructure of the original alloys, however, a single-phase state was only achieved for alloy samples with 𝑥 = 0.1. The high-coercivity state of the samples is provided by a regular microstructure and is implemented through the pinning mechanism. The maximum coercive force of 0.94 T was achieved on the Sm0.4Gd0.6Co3Cu2

Oxidation behavior of 9Cr-RAFM steel at high temperature

The effect of yttrium on the mechanism of oxidation film formation of the 9Cr reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (9Cr-RAFM) steel was investigated. Four alloys yttrium contents ranging from 0 to 0.065% were melted in a vacuum induction furnace and subjected to continuous isothermal oxidation experiments. The alloys were oxidized in air at 600, 700, 800 and 900 °C for 100 h. Oxidation kinetic curves were obtained and analyzed to study the effect of yttrium on the oxidation resistance of the alloys at high temperatures. The oxide films formed on the alloys were observed and analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The results indicated that the oxidation weight gain of the samples varied with the yttrium content, with the highest gain observed in the yttrium-free alloy sample, and the least in those containing 0.065% yttrium. Adding yttrium significantly enhanced the high temperature oxidation resistance of 9Cr-RAFM alloy by promoting the formation of a selective Cr2O3 oxide film. The film improved the adhesion of the oxide layer to the base metal, reduced the oxidation rate, and thereby enhanced the high-temperature oxidation resistance of the alloy.

The Evolution of Dilatant Shear Bands in High-Pressure Die Casting for Al-Si Alloys

Bands of interdendritic porosity and positive macrosegregation are commonly observed in pressure die castings, with previous studies demonstrating their close relation to dilatant shear bands in granular materials. Despite recent technological developments, the micromechanism governing dilatancy in the high-pressure die casting (HPDC) process for alloys between liquid and solid temperature regions is still not fully understood. To investigate the influence of fluid flow and the size of externally solidified crystals (ESCs) on the evolution of dilatant shear bands in HPDC, various filling velocities were trialled to produce HPDC samples of Al8SiMnMg alloys. This study demonstrates that crystal fragmentation is accompanied by a decrease in dilatational concentration, producing an indistinct shear band. Once crystal fragmentation stagnates, the enhanced deformation rate associated with a further increase in filling velocity (from 2.2 ms−1 to 4.6 ms−1) localizes dilatancy into a highly concentrated shear band. The optimal piston velocity is 3.6 ms−1, under which the average ESC size reaches the minimum, and the average yield stress and overall product of strength and elongation reach the maximum values of 144.6 MPa and 3.664 GPa%, respectively. By adopting the concept of force chain buckling in granular media, the evolution of dilatant shear bands in equiaxed solidifying alloys can be adequately explained based on further verification with DEM-type modeling in OpenFOAM. Three mechanisms for ESC-enhanced dilation are presented, elucidating previous reports relating the presence of ESCs to the subsequent shear band characteristics. By applying the physics of granular materials to equiaxed solidifying alloys, unique opportunities are presented for process optimization and microstructural modeling in HPDC.

SLM Magnesium Alloy Micro-Arc Oxidation Coating

In this study, we utilized Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology to fabricate a magnesium alloy, and subsequently subject it to micro-arc oxidation treatment. We analyzed and compared the microstructure, elemental distribution, wetting angle, and corrosion resistance of the SLM magnesium alloy both before and after the micro-arc oxidation process. The findings indicate that the SLM magnesium alloy exhibits surface porosity defects ranging from 2% to 3.2%, which significantly influence the morphology and functionality of the resulting film layer formed during the micro-arc oxidation process. These defects manifest as pores on the surface, leading to an uneven distribution of micropores with varying sizes across the layer. The surface roughness of the 3D-printed magnesium alloy exhibits a high roughness value of 180 nanometers. The phosphorus (P) content is lower within the film layer compared to the surface, suggesting that the Mg3(PO4)2 phase predominantly resides on the surface, whereas the interior is primarily composed of MgO. The micro-arc oxidation process enhances the hydrophilicity and corrosion resistance of the SLM magnesium alloy, thereby potentially endowing it with bioactivity. Additionally, the increased surface roughness post-treatment promotes cell proliferation. However, certain inherent defects present in the SLM magnesium alloy samples negatively impact the improvement of their corrosion resistance.