Silicide Phases Research Articles

Studies on high temperature erosion behavior of HVOF-sprayed (Cr₃C₂-NiCr)Si and WC-Co/NiCrAlY composite coatings

The present study investigates the high temperature erosion behavior of HVOF sprayed composite coatings on T11 steel substrates by studying (Cr₃C₂-NiCr)Si and WC-Co/NiCrAlY coatings. Phase composition, cross sectional microstructure, mechanical properties, and erosion resistance were analyzed by XRD, EDS, SEM and three-dimensional optical profilography. The results demonstrate that the WC-Co/NiCrAlY coating has higher erosion resistance and oxidation stability for all temperatures and impact angles tested. Its enhanced performance in high temperature and erosive conditions is attributable to the formation of stable protective oxides such as Al₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃ and intermetallic phases such as Ni₃Al and Cr₃C₂. The NiCrAlY matrix prevents significant decarburization of WC particles, and hence phase stability and oxidation resistance. The (Cr₃C₂-NiCr)Si coating has higher microhardness due to silicide phases, but is more vulnerable to direct impacts and inferior oxidation resistance. The phase transformations for both coatings are favorable at elevated temperatures which enhances erosion resistance. The WC-Co/NiCrAlY coating is smooth and shallower in erosion craters and is perfectly suited for harsh environments demanding high toughness, impact resistance and oxidation stability. For applications in which high hardness is needed in less severe conditions, the (Cr₃C₂-NiCr)Si coating is more suitable.

The influence of WC content on the microstructure and properties of laser cladding CoCrFeMnNiSi1.6 high-entropy alloy coatings

In order to deeply investigate the influence mechanism of different contents of ceramic reinforced phase WC on the microstructure, microhardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of high-entropy alloy composite coatings. CoCrFeMnNiSi1.6-(WC)x high-entropy alloy composite coatings were prepared on the surface of AISI 1045 steel by laser cladding technique. The results showed that the coating without added WC particles consisted of FCC phase, silicide phase and BCC phase structure. The carbide phase started to appear in the coating after the addition of WC particles. The microhardness of the coatings increased gradually with the increase of WC content, and the average hardness of the composite coatings reached the highest when 40 wt% of WC particles were added, which was 782.2 HV0.5, an increase of 52 % compared with the WC0 coatings without added WC particles. With the addition of WC particles, the wear resistance of the high-entropy alloy composite coatings gradually increases and then decreases.WC3 has the lowest coefficient of friction, which is 9.23 % lower compared with the WC0 composite coating without added WC. With the addition of WC particles, the corrosion resistance of the coatings first gradually increased and then decreased. When 30 wt% of WC particles were added, the passivation film on the surface of the coating was the most stable and dense with the best corrosion resistance. The results of this paper provide a theoretical basis for the preparation of high-entropy alloy composite coatings doped with ceramic reinforced phase WC.

Experimental Investigation of the Influence of Phase Compounds on the Friability of Fe-Si-Mn-Al Complex Alloy

The research presented in the article is devoted to the study of the influence of phase compounds on the friability of the Fe-Si-Mn-Al complex alloy. The urgency of the problem lies in the development of technology for producing a non-scatterable alloy from manganese-containing ores and high-ash coals. The main goal of this work is to determine the range of alloy compositions and the resulting phases that affect the dispersibility of the alloy, which is critically important for its industrial implementation. Research methods include thermodynamic diagram analysis (TDA) using data on the standard enthalpy of formation of intermetallic compounds, as well as experimental tests in an ore-thermal electric furnace with a capacity of 200 kV*A. The results show that Fe-Si-Mn-Al complex alloys form a variety of silicide and aluminide phases, including intermetallic compounds and ternary systems, which is critical for understanding and controlling their physicochemical properties. When melting a complex alloy, the content of leboite (Fe3Si7) in the Fe-Si-Mn-Al system plays a significant role. The development of melting process technology will be aimed at avoiding the FeSi2-Fe3Si7-F2(FeAl3Si2)-Mn11Si19 tetrahedron area. This approach to controlling the composition of a complex alloy is critical to ensuring its consistent friability properties in industrial applications. Thus, this work represents an important step in understanding the physical properties and stability of Fe-Si-Mn-Al complex alloys, which have potential for widespread use in metallurgical and other industrial applications.

Strategic alloy design and processing for improved mechanical response in the Mo-Si-Ti system

This study focuses on the impact of off-eutectic microstructures on mechanical properties in ternary Mo-Si-Ti alloys, namely Ti-rich Mo-18Si-72Ti and Mo-16.5Si-72Ti, in relation to the well-researched eutectic, two-phase Mo-20Si-52.8Ti alloy. The microstructure of these alloys consists of a Ti-rich body-centered cubic solid solution (Ti,Mo,Si)ss and a hexagonal silicide phase (Ti,Mo)5Si3. Notably, the off-eutectic alloys exhibit remarkable compression ductility at 800 °C, distinguishing it from Mo-20Si-52.8Ti. The directionally solidified (DS) specimens of the Ti-rich alloys display higher strength compared to the arc-melted specimens. This enhanced strength is attributed to the multiple precipitation strengthening events present, despite the increase in the length scale of individual phases which further enhances the fracture toughness.

Investigation of mechanical properties and high temperature wear resistance of CoFeNi1.5VZr0.4Six high entropy alloys optimized by Si alloying

The current work studies the mechanical properties and high-temperature wear resistance of CoFeNi1.5VZr0.4Six high entropy alloys by Si alloying. The Si alloying transforms Ni7Zr2 into a more wear-resistant silicide phase, and the microstructure changes from lamellar eutectic structure to dendritic structure. The high temperature microhardness, compressive strength and fracture toughness of the HEAs increase first and then decrease with the increasing Si content. The Si alloying in HEAs brings about significant improvements in wear resistance at elevated temperature through the combined effects of phase structure modifications and compositional changes in the tribo-layer. The augmented mechanical properties of the worn subsurface layer contribute to improved wear resistance at elevated temperatures.

Gadolinium doping induced the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties improvement of Nb-Si based in-situ superalloy

Nb-Si superalloy is one of the most potential structure-materials of next generation aero engine. The influence of rare-earth element Gd on microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb-16Si-24Ti is explored in this paper. Results show that phase composition no change by doping of Gd. And the mass of Nbss/(Nb, X)3Si eutectic exists in the matrix instead of primary Nbss. The rare-earth element Gd reduces the Si contents in Nbss phases, and the content of O is also limited because of its high active. The deflection, bridging and secondary crack are easily found in coarsened Nbss, and the peak-value of fracture toughness is 8.37 MPa·m1/2 in NST-0.05Gd alloy. The phenomenon of solution strength is obvious, and the maximum value of RT compressive strength is 2214 MPa. The thermal compression test indicates that silicide phases play the major role for high-temperature performance, and the Nbss phases have the poor heat-resistance under HT condition.

Unveiling microstructural damage for leakage current degradation in SiC Schottky diode after heavy ions irradiation under 200 V

Single-event burnout and single-event leakage current (SELC) in silicon carbide (SiC) power devices induced by heavy ions severely limit their space application, and the underlying mechanism is still unclear. One fundamental problem is lack of high-resolution characterization of radiation damage in the irradiated SiC power devices, which is a crucial indicator of the related mechanism. In this Letter, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the radiation damage in the 1437.6 MeV 181Ta-irradiated SiC junction barrier Schottky diode under 200 V. The amorphous radiation damage with about 52 nm in diameter and 121 nm in length at the Schottky metal (Ti)–semiconductor (SiC) interface was observed. More importantly, in the damage site the atomic mixing of Ti, Si, and C was identified by electron energy loss spectroscopy and high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM. It indicates that the melting of the Ti–SiC interface induced by localized Joule's heating is responsible for the amorphization and the possible formation of titanium silicide, titanium carbide, or ternary phases. The mushroom-like hillock in the Ti layer can be attributed to Rayleigh–Taylor instability, as another evidence for ever-happened localized melting near the Schottky interface. These modifications at nanoscale in turn cause localized degradation of the Schottky contact, resulting in permanent increase in leakage current. This experimental study provides very valuable clues for a thorough understanding of the SELC mechanism in SiC diodes.

Low-temperature sintering of SiC ceramics using a mixture of preceramic precursor and metal nanoparticles

Polymer infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) has a limitation in increasing the relative density of SiC ceramics above 90 %. This is due to the blockage of open pore channels. In this study, a new process that incorporates Ni and graphite nanoparticles into SiC preceramic precursor is examined. Ni nanoparticles react with the SiC precursor to form low melting point nickel silicide phases which infiltrate into pores of the bulk without a blockage problem. In later infiltration cycles, graphite nanoparticles are added to convert the nickel silicide to nickel carbide and silicon carbide, which may prevent the deterioration of mechanical strength at high temperature. The relative density of SiC ceramics in this study increases to 92 % and above, which is higher than that of SiC ceramics prepared by the traditional PIP. The results of this study show a pathway to process high density SiC ceramics at relatively low sintering temperatures.

Correction: Effect of Silicide and α2 Phase on the Creep Behavior of TC25G Alloy at High Temperature

Correction: Effect of Silicide and α2 Phase on the Creep Behavior of TC25G Alloy at High Temperature

Interface Effects in the Stability of 2D Silica, Silicide, and Silicene on Pt(111) and Rh(111).

Ultrathin two-dimensional silica films have been suggested as highly defined conductive models for fundamental studies on silica-supported catalyst particles. Key requirements in this context are closed silica films that isolate the gas phase from the underlying metal substrate and stability under reaction conditions. Here, we present silica bilayer films grown on Pt(111) and Rh(111) and characterize them by scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We provide the first report of silica bilayer films on Rh(111) and have further successfully prepared fully closed films on Pt(111). Interestingly, surface and interface silicide phases play a decisive role in both cases: On platinum, closed films can be stabilized only when silicon is deposited in excess, which results in an interfacial silicide or silicate layer. We show that these silica films can also be grown directly from a surface silicide phase. In the case of rhodium, the silica phase is less stable and can be reduced to a silicide in reductive environments. Though similar in appearance to the "silicene" phases that have been controversially discussed on Ag(111), we conclude that an interpretation of the phase as a surface silicide is more consistent with our data. Finally, we show that the silica film on platinum is stable in 0.8 mbar CO but unstable at elevated temperatures. We thus conclude that these systems are only suitable as model catalyst supports to a limited extent.

The Creep‐Induced Micro‐ and Nanostructural Evolution of a Eutectic Mo–Si–Ti Alloy at 1200 °C

In the present study, the creep deformation mechanisms of a eutectic Mo–Si–Ti alloy (comprising a body‐centered solid solution and a hexagonal silicide) are verified. The microstructural changes occurring at the various microstructural length scales are correlated to the nature of the creep curve. The creep curve exhibits a transient strain‐hardening region followed by a distinct minimum and then creep rate accelerates after that. The formation of a high fraction of disperse (Ti,Mo)5Si3 precipitates in the solid solution lead to significant strengthening in the transient creep regime. By the simultaneous decrease of the initially high dislocation density in the solid solution, diffusional creep contributes to effective creep behavior. At the minimum, the load and strain are also carried by the silicide phase which undergoes plastic deformation. Continuous coarsening of precipitates and loss of precipitation strengthening in the solid solution and dynamic recovery in the silicide phase lead to creep acceleration.

Unveiling the Intricacies of a Ductile‐Phase Toughened Intermetallic: An In‐Depth Exploration of a Eutectic Mo–Si–Ti Alloy and its Mechanical Behavior

Herein, the development of directional solidification for a novel high‐temperature Mo–20Si–52.8Ti (at%) ternary alloy using a modified Bridgeman type apparatus is presented. The resulting alloy exhibits a microstructure consisting of a body‐centered cubic solid solution (BCCss) and a hexagonal silicide (Ti,Mo)5Si3 with approximate volume fractions of 50% for each phase. The phases exhibit a crystallographic orientation relationship with and . Different solidification velocities are imposed, which reveal an inverse relationship to the lamellar spacing according to a Jackson–Hunt type scaling. Mechanical characterization using Vickers indentation demonstrates that the BCCss accommodates plasticity through dislocation motion, while the silicide phase exhibits high hardness and brittleness, serving as a crack initiation site. Crack propagation is arrested and deflected at the interface to the BCCss. Fracture toughness measurements via indentation yield a fracture toughness of 3.7 MPa√m for the silicide, somewhat higher than previously reported values for Nb‐, Mo‐, and Cr‐based silicides at room temperature. The directionally solidified specimens show an enhanced fracture toughness attributed to a greater BCCss length scale; thus, combining the ductile and hard phases results in a ductile‐phase toughened intermetallic composite. The findings open up new possibilities for the design of advanced intermetallic composites with improved toughness performance.

Revealing the solid-state reaction process among multiphase multicomponent ceramic during ablation

Multiphase design is a promising approach to achieve superior ablation resistance of multicomponent ultra-high temperature ceramic, while understanding the ablation mechanism is the foundation. Here, through investigating a three-phase multicomponent ceramic consisting of Hf-rich carbide, Nb-rich carbide, and Zr-rich silicide phases, we report a newly discovered solid-state reaction process among multiphase multicomponent ceramic during ablation. It was found that this solid-state reaction occurred in the matrix/oxide scale interface region. In this process, metal cations are counter-diffused between the multicomponent phases, thereby resulting in their composition evolution, which allows the multicomponent phases to exist stably under a higher oxygen partial pressure, leading to the improvement of thermodynamic stability of three-phase multicomponent ceramic. Additionally, this solid-state reaction process appears synergistic with the preferential oxidation behavior among the oxide scale in enhancing the ablation performance.

On the Microstructure and Properties of Complex Concentrated bcc Solid Solution and Tetragonal D8m M5Si3 Silicide Phases in a Refractory Complex Concentrated Alloy

In this work, the refractory complex concentrated alloy (RCCA) 3.5Al–4Cr–6Ge–1Hf–5Mo–36Nb–22Si–1.5Sn–20Ti–1W (at.%) was studied in the as cast and heat treated conditions (100 h or 200 h at 1500 °C). There was strong macrosegregation of Si in the 0.6 kg button/ingot of the cast alloy, in which A2 solid solution, D8m βNb5Si3, C14-NbCr2 Laves phase and Tiss and a ternary eutectic of the A2, D8m and C14 phases were formed. The partitioning of Ti in the as cast and heat treated microstructure and its relationships with other solutes was shown to be important for the properties of the A2 solid solution and the D8m βNb5Si3, which were the stable phases at 1500 °C. The near surface microstructure of the alloy was contaminated with oxygen after heat treatment under flowing Ar. For the aforementioned phases, it was shown, for the first time, that there are relationships between solutes, between solutes and the parameters VEC, Δχ and δ, between the said parameters, and between parameters and phase properties. For the contaminated with oxygen solid solution and silicide, trends in relationships between solutes, between solutes and oxygen content and between the aforementioned parameters and oxygen content also were shown for the first time. The nano-hardness and Young’s modulus of the A2 solid solution and the D8m βNb5Si3 of the as cast and heat-treated alloy were measured using nanoindentation. Changes of nano-hardness and Young’s modulus of the A2 solid solution and D8m βNb5Si3 per solute addition for this multiphase RCCA were discussed. The nano-hardness and Young’s modulus of the solid solution and the βNb5Si3, respectively, were 9.5 ± 0.2 GPa and 177.4 ± 5.5 GPa, and 17.55 ± 0.5 GPa and 250.27 ± 6.3 GPa after 200 h at 1500 °C. The aforementioned relationships and properties of the two phases demonstrated the importance of synergy and entanglement of solutes, parameters and phases in the microstructure and properties of the RCCA. Implications of synergy and entanglement for the design of metallic ultra-high temperature materials were emphasised.

Merging of Bi-Modality of Ultrafast Laser Processing: Heating of Si/Au Nanocomposite Solutions with Controlled Chemical Content.

Ultrafast laser processing possesses unique outlooks for the synthesis of novel nanoarchitectures and their further applications in the field of life science. It allows not only the formation of multi-element nanostructures with tuneable performance but also provides various non-invasive laser-stimulated modalities. In this work, we employed ultrafast laser processing for the manufacturing of silicon-gold nanocomposites (Si/Au NCs) with the Au mass fraction variable from 15% (0.5 min ablation time) to 79% (10 min) which increased their plasmonic efficiency by six times and narrowed the bandgap from 1.55 eV to 1.23 eV. These nanostructures demonstrated a considerable fs laser-stimulated hyperthermia with a Au-dependent heating efficiency (~10-20 °C). The prepared surfactant-free colloidal solutions showed good chemical stability with a decrease (i) of zeta (ξ) potential (from -46 mV to -30 mV) and (ii) of the hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles (from 104 nm to 52 nm) due to the increase in the laser ablation time from 0.5 min to 10 min. The electrical conductivity of NCs revealed a minimum value (~1.53 µS/cm) at 2 min ablation time while their increasing concentration was saturated (~1012 NPs/mL) at 7 min ablation duration. The formed NCs demonstrated a polycrystalline Au nature regardless of the laser ablation time accompanied with the coexistence of oxidized Au and oxidized Si as well as gold silicide phases at a shorter laser ablation time (<1 min) and the formation of a pristine Au at a longer irradiation. Our findings demonstrate the merged employment of ultrafast laser processing for the design of multi-element NCs with tuneable properties reveal efficient composition-sensitive photo-thermal therapy modality.

Synthesis of highly disperse NbSi2–Si3N4 and Si3N4–NbN composite powders

AbstractThe behavior of reaction powder mixtures of stoichiometric compositions calculated for the synthesis of higher niobium nitride and silicide in the temperature range 800–1400°С in vacuum according to the reactions 4Nb + Si3N4 and 3Nb + 2Si3N4, respectively, has been investigated. The decomposition of Si3N4 is accompanied by the formation of lower nitride and lower silicide phases of niobium. The content of the silicide phase increases with heat treatment temperature, and, at 1400°С, NbSi2 forms. The nitride phase remains practically unchanged up to 1300°С and disappears at 1400°С. On the basis of the established regularities, we have developed synthesis methods for Si3N4–NbN and Si3N4–NbSi2 powders, which include the introduction of excess Si3N4 with respect to the stoichiometric composition. The combined two‐stage technological cycle of synthesis of Si3N4–NbN involves vacuum annealing at 1000°С and subsequent nitriding at 1300°С. The synthesis method for NbSi2–Si3N4 assumes the in situ successive formation of niobium silicide phases up to 1400°С. The synthesized Si3N4–15NbN and NbSi2–14Si3N4 powders consist of multiphase agglomerates with a mean size of 5.5 and 8.8 µm, respectively, and a nanodisperse fraction with a mean particle size of 200 nm.

Study on the silicide phase control and room temperature mechanical properties of Nb-Si-Ti based alloys via B and Mg-microalloying

The Nb-16Si-20Ti-4Cr-1.5Al-4Hf-4Zr-1Ta-xB (x=0, 2, 4)-yMg (y=0, 0.2, 0.4) alloys were prepared by non-consumable arc melting. The effects of B and Mg addition on the microstructure and room temperature fracture toughness have been investigated. The results reveal that when the content of B element reached 4 at.%, the intermediate metastable phase Nb3Si was precipitated in Nb-Si based alloys. The cooperation of B and Mg synergistically enhances the room temperature fracture toughness of Nb-Si based alloy. B and Mg element causes the eutectic point of Nb-Si based alloy to shift to the right. The 2B-0.4Mg alloy shows the best fracture toughness, and its KQ value is 14.41 MPa·m 1/2, which increased by 34% compared to the matrix alloy. Crack deflection and secondary cracking increase the room-temperature fracture toughness of Nb-Si-based alloys.

Synthesis of FeSi-FeAl Composites from Separately Prepared FeSi and FeAl Alloys and Their Structure and Properties.

Composites consisting of iron aluminide and iron silicide phases were studied in this work. Powders of iron aluminide and iron silicide were prepared by mechanical alloying separately. Subsequently, they were blended in three different proportions and sintered by the SPS method under various conditions. After sintering, the composites are composed of FeAl and amounts of other silicides (Fe5Si3 and Fe3Si). Ternary Fe-Al-Si phases were not determined, even though their presence was predicted by DFT calculations. This disagreement was explained by steric factors, i.e., by differences in the space lattice of the present phases. Hardness and tribological properties were measured on composites with various weight ratios of iron aluminide and iron silicide. The results show that sintered silicides with the matrix composed of iron aluminide reach comparable hardness to tool steels. The composites with higher mass ratios of iron aluminide than silicide have higher hardness and better tribological properties.

Experimental and numerical investigations of sliding wear behaviour of an Fe-based alloy for PWR wear resistance applications

The excellent wear and corrosion resistance of Co-based alloys make them desirable for tribological applications in the nuclear industry. However, neutron activation of the Co-based alloys leads to significant occupational radiation doses. An alternative Fe-based alloy called RR2450 was developed by Rolls-Royce plc to replace these alloys. This paper presents the first comprehensive study evaluating the sliding wear resistance of RR2450 alloy in representative PWR conditions. The sliding counterface of RR2450 balls was a Co-based alloy, Haynes 25 discs. Four tests were performed at temperatures up to 80 °C, and 12 tests were performed up to 200 °C. Results showed wear performance of RR2450 balls degraded at higher loads and temperatures, with temperature having a significant role. Microstructural investigation revealed voids and hard silicide phases, negatively impacting wear resistance. Nonetheless, the wear performance of RR2450 was similar to a Co-based alloy, a=Stellite 20, at nuclear reactor conditions. Two wear tests with uneven wear tracks were selected for 3D finite element analysis. The wear simulation procedure is based on Archard’s wear equation and is implemented in a commercial FE package, ABAQUS. The FEA method was used to capture the wear on both surfaces, and was shown to predict nominal wear profiles. These comparisons with experiments show that the FEA results can provide representative wear profiles when wear depths and widths are asymmetrical and irregular.

Effects of Interfacial Electron Transport on Field Electron Emission from Carbon Nanotube Paste Emitters.

Field electron emission from carbon nanotubes (CNT) is preceded by the transport of electrons from the cathode metal to emission sites. Specifically, a supporting layer indispensable for adhesion of CNT paste emitters onto the cathode metal would impose a potential barrier, depending on its work function and interfacial electron transport behaviors. In this paper, we investigated the supporting layer of silicon carbide and nickel nanoparticles reacted onto a Kovar alloy (Fe-Ni-Co) cathode substrate, which has been adopted for reliable CNT paste emitters. The X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements showed that the reaction of silicon carbide and nickel nanoparticles on the Kovar metal strongly depends upon the post-vacuum-annealing conditions and can be classified into two procedures of a diffusion-induced reaction (DIR) and a diffusion-limited reaction (DLR). The prolonged annealing at 750 °C for 5 h before the main annealing of the CNT paste emitters at 800 °C for 5 min led to the DIR that has enhanced the Ni silicide phase and a lower potential barrier for the interfacial electron transport, resulting in increased and weakly temperature-dependent field electron emission from the CNT paste emitters. On the other hand, the DLR with only the main anneal of the CNT paste emitters at 800 °C for 5 min gave rise to a higher potential barrier for the electron transport and so lower and strongly temperature-dependent field electron emission. From the results of the interfacial electron transport for the DIR and DLR mechanisms in the CNT paste emitters, we concluded that the ambient temperature dependency of field electron emission from CNT tips in the moderate range of up to 400 °C, still controversial, is mainly attributed to the supporting layer of the CNT emitter rather than its intrinsic electron emission.