Nickel Alloys Research Articles

Investigating the Phonon Spectral Properties of Nickel and Palladium-based Heusler Alloys

Investigating the Phonon Spectral Properties of Nickel and Palladium-based Heusler Alloys

Creation of Tool Coatings Based on Titanium Diboride for Highly Efficient Milling of Chromium–Nickel Alloys

Creation of Tool Coatings Based on Titanium Diboride for Highly Efficient Milling of Chromium–Nickel Alloys

On the Use of a Chloride or Fluoride Salt Fuel System in Advanced Molten Salt Reactors, Part 3; Radiation Damage

Structural materials in fast reactors with harsh radiation environments due to high energy neutrons—compared to thermal reactors—potentially suffer from a higher degree of radiation damage. This radiation damage can change the thermophysical and mechanical properties of materials and, as a result, alter their performance and effective lifetime, in some cases leading to their disintegration. These phenomena can jeopardize the safety of fast reactors and thus need to be investigated. In this study, the effect of radiation damage on the vessels of molten salt fast reactors (MSFR) was evaluated based on two fundamental radiation damage parameters: displacement per atom (dpa) and primary knock-on atom (pka). Following the previous part of this article (Parts 1 and 2), an iMAGINE reactor core design (University of Liverpool, UK—chloride-based salt fuel system) and an EVOL reactor core design (CNRS, Grenoble, France, fluoride-based salt fuel system) with stainless steel and nickel-based alloy material vessels, respectively, were considered as case studies. The SPECTER and SPECTRA-PKA codes and a PTRAC card of MCNPX, integrated with a module which has been developed in MATLAB, named PTRIM and SRIM-2013 (using binary collision approximation), were employed individually to calculate and compare dpa and PKA (this master module containing all three tools has been appended to the iMAGINE-3BIC package for future use during reactor operations). Additionally, SRIM-2013 was applied in a 3D simulation of a radiation damage map on a small sample of vessels based on the calculated PKA. Our results showed a higher degree of radiation damage in the iMAGINE vessel compared to the EVOL one, which could be expected due to the harder neutron flux spectrum of the iMAGINE core compared to EVOL. In addition, the nickel alloy vessel showed better radiation damage resistance against high energy neutrons compared to the stainless steel one, although more investigations are required on thermal neutrons and alloy corrosion mechanisms to determine the best material for use in MSFR vessels.

Review and Analysis of Modern Laser Beam Welding Processes.

Laser beam welding is the most modern and promising process for the automatic or robotized welding of structures of the highest Execution Class, EXC3-4, which are made of a variety of weldable structural materials, mainly steel, titanium, and nickel alloys, but also a limited range of aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys, reactive materials, and even thermoplastics. This paper presents a systematic review and analysis of the author's research results, research articles, industrial catalogs, technical notes, etc., regarding laser beam welding (LBW) and laser hybrid welding (LHW) processes. Examples of industrial applications of the melt-in-mode and keyhole-mode laser welding techniques for low-alloy and high-alloy steel joints are analyzed. The influence of basic LBW and LHW parameters on the quality of welded joints proves that the laser beam power, welding speed, and Gas Metal Arc (GMA) welding current firmly decide the quality of welded joints. A brief review of the artificial intelligence (AI)-supported online quality-monitoring systems for LBW and LHW processes indicates the decisive influence on the quality control of welded joints.

Optimization of multi-axis laser shock peening process for nickel alloy components based on workpiece curvature and equipment dynamic performance

Optimization of multi-axis laser shock peening process for nickel alloy components based on workpiece curvature and equipment dynamic performance

Assessing the effect of different biodiesels on corrosion of nickel alloy

This investigation explores the corrosion behaviour of Ni alloy (UNS718), which is a potential material for storing biodiesel and making engine components. The study also examines the connection between Ni alloy corrosion and biodiesel degradation. Immersion tests were conducted using in-house biodiesels to evaluate the corrosion rates of Used Cooking Oil (UCOB), Karanja oil (KOB), and Jatropha oil (JOB) biodiesels on Ni alloy (UNS718). The results highlighted the role of corrosion product morphology and the formation of corrosion-driven pitting, cracks, etc., on Ni alloy when exposed to different biodiesels such as KOB, JOB, and UCOB. The study utilized gravimetric techniques to measure the corrosion rate and advanced analytical tools such as FESEM, EDS, XPS, NMR and XRF. It revealed decreased corrosion rates of Ni alloys with prolonged biodiesel immersion. For example, after 2160 h, Jatropha biodiesel exhibited a corrosion rate of 0.000699 mm/year, while the corrosion rates of Ni alloy exposed to UCOB and KOB were 0.001398 mm/year and 0.001048 mm/year, respectively. The study also suggests a detailed mechanism of Ni alloy corrosion when exposed to different biodiesels such as Karanja, Jatropha, and Used Cooking Oil.

Preparation of 97% pure nickel-cobalt alloy from waste Ni-MH batteries by using waste glass as a fluxing agent

With the e-waste growing rapidly all over the globe due to growing demand of electronics, smartphones, etc., coming up with an efficient and sustainable recycling process is the need of the hour. The present work reports a novel and sustainable process of manufacturing Ni alloy by bringing together three major waste streams such as waste Ni-MH batteries, e-waste plastics, and waste glass. The chosen temperature (1550 °C) favours the reduction of nickel-oxide by e-waste plastic as the reductant and sends rare earth elements present in the waste Ni-MH battery as oxide mixture to the slag phase. Waste glass powder used in this process functions as the fluxing agent, hence not requiring any additional flux. The reduction mechanism is gas-based, controlled mainly by hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases released as a result of decomposition of e-waste plastic as reaction commenced from cold zone (∼300 °C) to hot zone (1550 °C) in the horizontal tubular furnace. Formation of nickel alloy and enrichment of slag with mixture of rare earth oxides were confirmed by XRD, SEM-EDS, and Rietveld refining analysis performed on the XRD spectra of slag phase. ICP-OES (Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy) and LIBS (laser induced breakdown spectrometer KT-100S) confirmed the high metal content in the alloy, thereby emphasizing the purity (∼98%) which is close to the composition of nickel super alloy. A maximum of 61% by weight REO enrichment was achieved in the slag phase, having La2O3:44.6%, Pr2O3:14.8%, and Nd2O3: 1.6% under optimised experimental conditions (1550 °C, 15 min, and 20% waste glass powder). This scientific investigation evinces a promising route for efficient utilisation of waste streams emanating from e-waste, thereby devising a sustainable recycling technique and protecting the environment, too.

Expermintal Research of Electrochemical Behaviour of Zinc in Ammonium Chloride Solutions

A present study was investigated “Experimental Research of Electrochemical Behaviour of Zinc in Ammonium Chloride Solutions.” The study was investigated by the electrochemical corrosion of sine is a problem of high significance both in the fundamental and applied fields of electrochemistry. Hence investigations were undertaken to study the corrosion of zinc in storage systems, the electrodeposition and characterisation of sine and the electrodeposition and characterisation of Siti nickel alloy. Results was shows that Potential-pH diagram for zinc in ZnClg/ NH₄Cl electrolyte, as used in Laclanche’s cell. When the surface composition of polished zinc. A freshly polished Zn surface was immersed in 0.5M NH₄Cl for 45 seconds and then analysed for energy measurements by ESCA. The composition of the modified zinc surface is summarised in table-1, When the binding energy was scanned in a narrow range of 1021 to 1010 eV, the participation of Zn 2PI electrons in the bond formation was confirmed. The investigations on the zinc- NH₄Cl system were hence carried out with the following specific objectives: IC4 find out the structure and nature of the species formed un the surface of sine when introduced in NH₄Cl solutions.

Analysis of Wear Resistance of Metallic-Reinforced Polyurethane Resin Composites for Sheet Metal Forming

Abstract The paper presents the results of testing the wear resistance and coefficient of friction (COF) tools made of SikaBeresin® F50 polyurethane resin intended for dies and punches for the cold sheet metal forming process. Seven sets of composite tools (rotating rings) additionally reinforced with waste metallic powders from Al and Cu alloys (5-20% by volume) from the dry cutting process of pipes and rods were tested. Wear resistance tests and determination coefficient of friction were carried out using the T-05 block-on-ring tribotester. The tests were performed for heat and corrosion resistant sheets made of nickel alloy AMS5599 (Inconel 625), iron alloy AMS5510 (321) and aluminum alloy sheets AMS4026 (6061-T4). Composite tools with the addition of 20% aluminum powder (A+B+C+20%Al) tested with a specimen of steel alloy AMS5510 and nickel alloy AMS5599 were characterized by the lowest wear resistance. In each case, the composite rotating ring without reinforcements was characterized by the lowest coefficient of friction. The use of Cu powder reinforcements in each case had a positive effect on increasing wear resistance. The best wear resistance of 0.011% was obtained for composite rotating ring with the addition of 10% copper powder paired with specimen of nickel alloy AMS5599 sheet.

Integration of hybrid grey based ANFIS tool for enhanced laser beam welding of nickel alloy using computational modelling

Integration of hybrid grey based ANFIS tool for enhanced laser beam welding of nickel alloy using computational modelling

Assessment of dissimilar metal corrosion in molten chloride salt

Dissimilar metal corrosion between high nickel alloys and stainless steel was tested in purified molten chloride salt. Preliminary results have shown that corrosion rates are significantly affected for samples both when electrically connected and isolated. Suggesting that galvanic corrosion as well as non-galvanic dissimilar metal corrosion play a role in corrosion processes for multi component systems. These results suggest that even if efforts to prevent electrical contact are taken, close proximity of structural materials can still change corrosion rates in molten salt environments.

Powder Bed Fusion Techniques in Metal 3D Printing: A Review

The use of 3D printing (additive manufacturing) with metal has grown significantly in demand recently, greatly reducing the time and expense required to produce complex interconnected metal components. This method minimizes material wastage, facilitates material recycling, and eliminates the need for support materials. Among the various Metal Additive Manufacturing techniques, Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) processes stands out as the most prevalent for manufacturing parts. Within the realm of PBF, electron beam melting technique, selective laser sintering technique, and selective laser melting technique are the primary methods employed. Selective laser melting and selective laser sintering operate without the need for any special conditions, unlike EBM, which necessitates a vacuum environment. Regarding the choice of materials, laser melting/sintering processes are suitable for almost all types of metals except those which surpasses beam melting capabilities. While electron beam melting is constrained to a few materials such as titanium alloys, cobalt and chromium alloys, and nickel alloys, whereas selective laser melting and sintering allows for a broad range of materials, including iron and steel alloys. However, electron beam melting exhibit the ability to process brittle materials that would typically be challenging for melting and sintering through laser. Nevertheless, the ductility, yield testing, and ultimate testing of materials created through EBM are inferior to those processed by laser methods. Although all PBF techniques excel at creating complex structures, finishing products to have a smooth surface directly over a rough surface remains a subject of ongoing research. To attain suitable mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength, and endurance, critical process factors include power of laser or beam, speed for scanning, density for powder bed, thickness of laser or beam, and material characteristics. Inadequate material selection coupled with incorrect process settings can lead to issues such as porosity, slag formation, and other flaws.

Study on the impact of grinding variables on surface grinding of inconel 800

ABSTRACT Surface grinding is a widely employed finishing process in industrial sectors dedicated to achieve desired Surface characteristics of components. This study experimentally investigates the impact of the grinding parameters pertaining to the surface characteristics of Inconel 800, which is a nickel-iron-chromium alloy extensively used in high-temperature applications. Various commercially available grinding wheels were employed to grind Inconel800 under different grinding conditions. The ground surfaces were comprehensively analyzed using surface roughness measurements, Three-dimensional profilometry, optical microscopy, findings from XRD and SEM reveal that grinding parameters and wheel characteristics significantly impact the surface texture, topographical features, residual stress, and surface morphology of the machined nickel alloy.. The insights from this investigation contribute to the understanding of the grinding behavior of nickel-based superalloys and provide a basis for optimizing the grinding process for enhanced surface integrity. The findings are valuable for industries dealing with the machining of high-performance nickel alloy components.

Wear performance of ZrO2 reinforced stellite 6 matrix coatings prepared by laser cladding at elevated temperature

In order to modify the wear resistance of Stellite 6 superalloy as wear resistant coating at room temperature-1000 °C, the different contents (1.0, 2.5 and 4.0 wt%) of ZrO2 reinforced Stellite 6 matrix coatings were fabricated over the Inconel 718 nickel alloy substrate by laser cladding technology. The microstructure, hardness and high-temperature wear behavior of Stellite 6 matrix coatings with ZrO2 was systematically studied. The sliding wear test were done using a ball-on-disk tribometer against Si3N4 at room temperature-1000 °C. The results showed that the ZrO2 showed obvious fine-grain strengthening and dispersion strengthening effect. The hardness of coatings reinforced by ZrO2 were 470–540 Hv. A critical valve of ZrO2 content was existed for the wear performance of Stellite 6 matrix coatings. The coating with 2.5 wt% ZrO2 had the desirable wear resistance, and the wear rate was in the order of 10−5 mm3/N.m. This was attributed to the high microhardness and the formation of solid lubricants, as well as the friction film on the sliding surfaces.

Carbon-Monoxide Assisted Synthesis of Cobalt-Nickel Phosphides for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Alkaline water electrolysis is a method for production of hydrogen as an alternative source for renewable energy. This method can be completely free of greenhouse gas emissions if it is paired with another alternative energy source, such as solar energy or wind power, to provide the necessary electricity to drive the reaction. Water electrolysis requires catalysts to make that necessary amount of electricity low enough for competitive hydrogen production in the current market. Vast numbers of studies have been performed in an attempt to fill this need for cost-effective catalysts for water electrolysis. This work focuses on the development of synthesis methods for cobalt-nickel phosphide catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for water electrolysis in alkaline media. The methods for preparation of the catalysts are explored for cobalt, nickel, and cobalt-nickel alloy phosphides in the presence of carbon monoxide as a shape-controlling capping agent. Depending on the condition of carbon monoxide addition, the reaction results in high vs. low-aspect ratio nanorods or nanospheres for mono- or bimetallic cobalt-nickel phosphide nanostructures. These phosphides are then subjected to evaluation for HER via cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry to study the effects of morphology on their HER activity. Materials characterization such as XRD, TEM, and ICP-MS are performed before the HER electrochemical evaluation for better understanding of the structure-activity relationship. The catalytic activities of these phosphides are also compared to the noble metal benchmark HER catalyst Pt/C in the same environment at their equal mass loadings. The best-performing phosphide is further tested for HER at increased mass loadings to study the effects of catalyst loadings on the mass transport and thus the activity. Further TEM characterization is performed on the most active catalyst after HER to evaluate morphological stability. It is found that in order to achieve an overpotential at the current density of 100 mA/cm2 comparable to Pt/C for 50 μg/cm2, the necessary loading for the phosphide is 250 µg/cm2.

The Formation of a Low-Carbon Steel/Ni-Cr-W Alloy Bimetallic Material via Liquid–Solid Compound Casting with a Laser Assisted Solid Surface

The aim of this study was to develop a new manufacturing process for bimetallic materials by combining laser treatment with traditional casting methods. This process involves laser-treating nickel alloy-grade UNS 6230 plates to create a regular macro-relief on their surface. These treated plates are then placed in a sand mold, and molten non-alloy steel (S235JRG2) is poured into the mold to create bimetallic layered castings. The experimental procedure focuses on optimizing the melt-to-solid phase ratios and pouring temperatures to achieve a uniform microstructure and strong mechanical properties in the bimetals. The produced bimetallic castings are suitable for applications in the oil refining and chemical industries and heavy machinery sector. The quantitative results indicate that the optimized process parameters lead to a high-quality transition zone with minimal defects, characterized by the diffusion of alloying elements from the nickel alloy to the steel. The microstructure, chemical, and phase compositions were evaluated using XRD and SEM with EDS, confirming the formation of a robust metallurgical bond. Key findings include a significant improvement in the hardness and strength of the transition layer, with the optimal pouring temperature being 1600 °C. The resulting bimetallic materials demonstrate an improved performance in demanding industrial environments.

Corrosion behavior of SMSS 13Cr and SS 316L under chloride solution and H2S/CO2 environments

Abstract Corrosion resistant alloys (CRAs) include a range of different stainless steels and nickel alloys that are used in corrosion-aggressive environments encountered in oil and gas operations. Supermartensitic stainless steel (SMSS 13Cr) has been used in the manufacture of steel tubes for use in oil drilling due a more financially viable option to replace the austenitic stainless steel (SS 316L) in the oil and gas market. This present work estimate the effect of the hydrogen sulphide (H2S) on SMSS 13Cr and SS 316L, in saline solution, simulating the operating conditions in the oil and gas industry. Corrosion behavior was monitored using Potentiodynamic-Potentiostatic-Potentiodynamic (PD-PS-PD) technique in order to obtain pitting potential (Ep) or crevice potential (Ecrev)) and repassivation potential (Erp) while the long-term Open Circuit Potential (OCP) technique was applied to estimate the stable corrosion potential (Ecorr*). A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Optical Microscopy were used for surface characterization. With all analysis carried out was possible to propose a trend regarding the pitting probability. The pitting increases with increasing H2S concentration on SSSM 13Cr, consequently, large, and deeper pits were observed, making possible to develop into cracks if there are mechanical stresses. On the contrary, the pitting probability for the SS 316L is low (compared with SMSS 13Cr) for all environments reproduced here in this research.

Synthesis of Copper–Nickel and Iron–Nickel Alloys by Hydrogen Reduction of Mixtures of Metal Oxide Powders

The vast majority of metals production is based on the use of carbon as a reductant and/or a heating fuel. This results in a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions and should be minimized to limit global warming. In this study, powders of copper–nickel alloy and iron–nickel of varying compositions were produced in a single step by reduction of mixtures of Cu2O-NiO and Fe2O3-NiO powders, respectively, using hydrogen as a reductant. Reduction was performed in a horizontal tube furnace at 700 °C for 45 min. All processing was in the solid state and alloys were produced directly from elemental metal oxides. Exhaust gases were analyzed using a gas analyzer to measure the water content to track the progress of the reduction. Reduction was declared complete when the water content in exhaust gases matched the level before hydrogen was introduced. Both copper–nickel and iron–nickel alloys were produced successfully. X-ray diffractometry confirmed the absence of oxides in the product and the presence of solid phases in agreement with the relevant binary phase diagram. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in a scanning electron microscope showed macroscopic homogeneity at the expected composition for each powder mixture directly after reduction, with microscopic fluctuations of the order of several mass percent, within the limits of fluctuations observed following typical casting processes. These promising results warrant further investigation to apply this concept to more chemistries and to scale up the process to a pilot scale.Graphical

A review analysis of corrosion rate on stainless steel pipe in sea water media

Regarding providing energy, few sectors are as massive as the oil and gas business. One of the most crucial parts of oil and gas production is the distribution pipes or pipelines that transport the production fluids, which include oil and gas, from one distribution point to another. The corrosion of A316 material, which can lead to holes or pitting, and the damage it causes in most industrial operations, particularly in the oil and gas industry, has resulted in substantial losses at high prices over an extended period of time. In the study, we will quickly examine what corrosion is, the different kinds of corrosion, inhibitors, and how to assess the corrosion rate of A316 stainless steel in salt water. Analysis of the electrochemical corrosion rate of Inconel 600 nickel alloy and stainless steel 316L subjected to varying amounts of saltwater (freshwater, seawater, mixed water). Because chlorine speeds up corrosion, alloys like Inconel 600 and 316L undergo pitting corrosion. The molybdenum component gives 316 stainless steel its superior corrosion resistance. That's why it works well for gas and oil pipelines that go through saltwater. Nevertheless, materials exposed to maritime environments must have cathodic protection or coating to prolong their life and stop the pipe from continuously corroding.

Electron Microscopic Analysis of the Nb<sub>5</sub>Si<sub>3</sub>/NBC/NbSi<sub>2</sub> Composite Structure

The method of aluminothermic self-propagating high-temperature synthesis was used to obtain a composite material based on Nb-Si-C. The study of this system is of interest from the point of view of obtaining high-temperature materials of a new generation for gas turbine engine building, capable of replacing heat-resistant nickel alloys, as well as the potential possibility of forming MAX-phases (phases Mn + 1AXn where n = 1, 2, 3, ...; M is transitional d-metal, A – p-element, X – carbon). The resulting Nb-Si-C composite were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray spectral microanalysis. It is shown that NbC carbide and silicides γ-Nb5Si3 and NbSi2 are formed in the sample. A detailed analysis of the morphological distribution of the constituent phases has been carried out.