Structure investigations on the hot-working behaviour of steel

Structure changes occurring in hot-deformation of the austenite of steel, the - phase transformation of which takes place above room temperature, cannot directly be studied with quenched specimens. However, within certain limits a microstructure characterization is possible by means of investigation of carefully selected model alloys and/or by analysis of the microstructure inheritance associated with a martensitic - transition of the hot-worked austenite. Application of both procedures is demonstrated with results which were obtained in investigations of the hot-working behaviour of low-alloy spring steel and an Fe-Ni-C model alloy.     

Laser surface treatment of tool steels

Laser surface treatment is a promising technique for improving the wear and corrosion resistance of materials. In the case of tool steels, laser surface treatment is preferably carried out in the liquid state to allow for complete dissolution of carbides. This paper concerns the application of laser melting to the surface treatment of AISI 420 and 440C martensitic stainless steels and sintered AISI T15 high-speed steel. Usually, laser-melted tool steels contain martensite, retained austenite and carbides. In steels containing large proportions of ferrite-forming alloying elements, -ferrite may also be observed. When applied to sintered steels, laser treatment leads to the elimination of residual porosity. The proportion of retained austenite in laser-melted steels is much higher than in conventionally treated steels. However, the hardness is high because austenite is strengthened by solid solution, dislocations and small grain size. The high volume fraction of retained austenite usually prohibits the application of tool steels in the laser-treated condition. Austenite may be eliminated by multiple tempering treatments at temperatures in the range 550–650°C. During tempering, carbides precipitate within austenite and martensite, and austenite transforms to martensite on cooling or isothermally to ferrite. Strong secondary hardening is often observed and the temperature of the secondary hardening peak of laser-surface-melted steels is higher than after conventional heat treatment.     

Mechanical performance of metal-ceramic interfaces produced by laser processing

This paper concentrates on the mechanical performance of various ceramic coatings of Cr₂O₃ on steel (SAF2205), as produced by CO₂ laser processing. The thickness of the coating that can be applied by laser coating is limited to about 200 m setting a limit to the maximum strain energy release rate that can be measured in a 4 point flexure test before severe yielding occurs. In addition, a network of cracks with spacings of the order of 200 m was always present in the laser applied coating preventing steady state crack growth along the interface.It is concluded that a firmly bonded coating of Cr₂O₃ on steel could be produced by high power laser processing. The actual interface strength of a (Fe, Cr)-spinel applied to stainless steel by laser coating depends strongly on the composition of the substrate and coating materials. The energy release rate was extremely high and delamination occurred by fracture through the coating and partially along the interface, indicating that the interface strength is similar to or higher than the fracture strength of (Fe, Cr)-spinel.     

Study of the Microstructure and Phase-Composition of a WC-Alloy with a Hadfield Steel Binder

The phase composition and structure of a tungsten carbide alloy with a Hadfield steel binder are studied using metallography, x-ray diffraction analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. It is found that tungsten carbide is dissolved in the binder during sintering. This gives rise to a nonuniform distribution of the alloying additions in the -solid solution, which results in precipitation of complex carbides of the (W, Fe) _x C type having different crystal-lattice parameters. The volume fraction of these carbides is as high as 9–10%.     

TheS=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the triangular lattice: Exact results and spin-wave theory for finite cells

We study the ground state properties of theS=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet (HAF) on the triangular lattice with nearest-neighbour (J) and next-nearest neighbour (J) couplings. Classically, this system is known to be ordered in a 120° Néel type state for values-<1/8 of the ratio of these couplings and in a collinear state for 1/8<<1. The order parameter and the helicity /gC of the 120° structure are obtained by numerical diagonalisation of finite periodic systems of up toN=30 sites and by applying the spin-wave (SW) approximation to the same finite systems. We find a surprisingly good agreement between the exact and the SW results in the entire region-<<1/8. It appears that the SW theory is still valid for the simple triangular HAF (=0) although the sublattice magnetisation is substantially reduced from its classical value by quantum fluctuations. Our numerical results for the order parameterM of the collinear order support the previous conjecture of a first order transition between the 120° and the collinear order at 1/8.     

BΛF theory and flat spacetimes

We propose a reduced constrained Hamiltonian formalism for the exactly solubleBF theory of flat connections and closed two-forms over manifolds with topology ³ × (0,1). The reduced phase space variables are the holonomies of a flat connection for loops which form a basis of the first homotopy group ₁( ³), and elements of the second cohomology group of ³ with value in the Lie algebraL(G). WhenG=SO(3,1), and if the two-form can be expressed asB=ee, for some vierbein fielde, then the variables represent a flat spacetime. This is not always possible: We show that the solutions of the theory generally represent spacetimes with global torsion. We describe the dynamical evolution of spacetimes with and without global torsion, and classify the flat spacetimes which admit a locally homogeneous foliations, following thurston's classification of geometric structures.This research is supported in part by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. PHY 89-04035, by CONACyT Grant No. 400349-1714E (Mexico), and by the Association Générale pour la Coopération et le Développement (Belgium).     

Strain Hardening and Fracture of Austenitic Steel Single Crystals with High Concentration of Interstitial Atoms

Stages in the flow curves, mechanisms of deformation (slip or twinning), evolution of the dislocation structure and fracture are studied in austenitic stainless steel single crystals alloyed with nitrogen (C _N = 0–0.7 wt. %) and Hadfield steel in relation to the orientation of the crystal axis of tension, test temperature, and atomic concentrations of nitrogen and carbon. The dislocation-structure pattern (cellular or planar) and deformation mechanisms (slip or twinning) are shown to depend on the matrix stacking-fault energy _sf, friction forces due to solid-solution hardening by interstitial atoms, and crystal orientation. An interrelation between the stages in the flow curves and the type of dislocation structure is found. The contribution of mechanical twinning to the plastic flow of steel crystals is shown to increase with increase in nitrogen and carbon concentrations. The mechanical twinning develops in the early stages of deformation and determines the strain-hardening coefficient and fracture of crystals in high-strength states for interstitial atomic concentration C 0.5–0.7 wt. %. High deforming stresses due to solid-solution strain hardening by interstitial atoms of nitrogen and carbon in combination with low _sf are found to result in twinning in the <001> orientations. The values of _sf in Hadfield steel single crystals and in austenitic stainless steel single crystals are found experimentally depending on the concentration of nitrogen atoms and test temperature.     

Mössbauer effect and XRD studies of iron-zinc binary alloys

Mössbauer spectroscopy and XRD were employed to characterize the microstructural properties of iron-zinc binary alloys between 0–31 at.% Fe. Samples were prepared with accuracies of ±0.5 at.% Fe, and the Mössbauer and lattice parameters were monitored as a function of iron concentration across each phase. Two iron sites were observed in the phase (18–31 at.% Fe), whose occupancies and isomer shifts varied continuously with iron content. However, the quadrupole splitting of each site remained constant. Within the ₁ phase (19–24 at.% Fe), three iron sites were observed whose isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings remained constant, while their occupancies varied with iron concentration. For the first time, a third iron site was observed in the phase (8–13 at.% Fe), whose occupancy increases with iron content. Also, the site occupancies of the two other sites appear to remain constant, while other Mössbauer parameters vary continuously with iron content. Analysis of the phase (6–7 at.% Fe) showed the presence of one iron site, whose parameters were not observed to change due to the small variance in iron concentration. XRD studies indicate the lattice parameters across the and phases vary continuously with iron concentration. Moreover, a better understanding of these phases, as formed in galvanneal steel coatings, was obtained.Research supported by the International Lead Zinc Research Organization, Inc., Grant No. ZM-403 and Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, Grant No. MAT-92-007-01.     

Microstructure changes in high-speed hot rolling of steel rods

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), quantitative texture analysis by means of neutron diffraction (QTA) and X-ray diffraction profile analysis (XDPA) were used to study the microstructure changes occurring in high-speed hot rolling ( 1500 s^–1;T=1073 K) of high-alloy stainless steel X8CrTi17 (ferrite) and X8CrNiTi18.10 (austenite). The investigations indicate that at higher deformation rates recrystallization due to adiabatic overheating becomes an important process of microstructure formation.     

Conversion electrons in the decay of191Os

Internal conversion electrons in the decay of¹⁹¹Os have been measured with a 30 cm double focusing spectrometer. The transition energies of (129.27±0·07) keV, 82.5 keV, (46.90±±0.06) keV and (41.76±0.02) keV are given together with the corresponding internal conversion line intensities. It was found that the mixture of the 129 keV transition was 87% M1+13% E2. The previously proposed decay scheme is supplemented by the 46.90 keV transition.The authors would like to thank to M. Vobecký and A. Matalka for preparing the electrodeposited sources.     

Neutralization of antiprotons at nuclei

A method is given for calculating the cross section for neutralization of for medium and heavy nuclei in terms of the optical potential, by addition of the neutralization operator . The method is reasonable for energies . Explicit forms are obtained for the differential and total cross sections for an optical potential in the form of a complex rectangular well, V(r) = V₀., in which V₀ differs; from zero within the nucleus and . The value of V_o corresponding to the observed cross section for lead is derived. The dependence of the total cross section on V₀ for copper is given.I am indebted to P. E. Nemirovskii for direction and valuable advice.     

Finite Range of Large Perturbations in Hamiltonian Dynamics

The dynamics defined by the Hamiltonian , where the _m are fixed random phases, is investigated for large values of A, and for . For a given P ^* and for , this Hamiltonian is transformed through a rigorous perturbative treatment into a Hamiltonian where the sum of all the nonresonant terms, having a Q dependence of the kind cos(kQ – nt + _m) with \Delta \upsilon$$ " align="middle" border="0"> , is a random variable whose r.m.s. with respect to the _m is exponentially small in the parameter . Using this result, a rationale is provided showing that the statistical properties of the dynamics defined by H, and of the reduced dynamics including at each time t only the terms in H such that , can be made arbitrarily close by increasing . For practical purposes close to 5 is enough, as confirmed numerically. The reduced dynamics being nondeterministic, it is thus analytically shown, without using the random-phase approximation, that the statistical properties of a chaotic Hamiltonian dynamics can be made arbitrarily close to that of a stochastic dynamics. An appropriate rescaling of momentum and time shows that the statistical properties of the dynamics defined by H can be considered as independent of A, on a finite time interval, for A large. The way these results could generalize to a wider class of Hamiltonians is indicated.     

Retained Austenite Phase in (26.5%Cr, 2.6%C) White Cast Iron Studied by Means of CEMS and Eddy Current

High chrome white irons are specifically employed in the mining industry for their resistance to wear. More cost-effective materials are constantly being sought, due to the high wear rate of the drilling components, which is a high cost area for this industry. Optimum resistance to wear is often not the main criterion of material selection but parameters such as ease of fabrication; availability and low initial cost have also to be accounted for. A correctly heat-treated high chrome white iron of a right chemical composition presents the best hardness and toughness combination [1]. A (26.5 wt.% Cr, 2.6 wt.% C) white iron has been produced by casting and heat-treating. As the retained austenite phase has the ability to harden, the control of its content may result in tuning the applications of this material. Various heat-treatments were given to the above-mentioned material to achieve a spread of austenite values. The retained austenite phase amount was measured by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Conversion Electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) and Eddy current techniques. A linear correlation between results from Eddy Current and CEMS, Eddy-current and XRD, and between those from CEMS and XRD was observed. As the nominal abundance values were technique dependent, their conversion will be discussed. The present study results in the calibration of the Eddy current apparatus and suggests its application in the casting industry during mass production for the retained austenite content determination in high chrome white iron castings.     

Antioxidative and antiproliferative activities of novel pyrido[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]benzimidazoles

A series of pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles has been designed, and novel examples are synthesized and evaluated for their potential antiproliferative activity against four human tumour cell lines—cervical (HeLa), colorectal (SW620), breast (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2). In addition, their antioxidative potency has been evaluated by in vitro spectrophotometric assays. Preliminary structure–activity relationships among the synthesized compounds are discussed. Evaluation of their antioxidative capacity has shown that two compounds (25 and 26) possess promising reducing characteristics and free radical scavenging activity. Selective antiproliferative effect in the single-digit micromolar range was observed for compound 25 on MCF-7 \((\hbox {IC}_{50} = 6\,{\upmu }\hbox {M})\) and HeLa \((\hbox {IC}_{50} = 8\,{\upmu }\hbox {M})\) cell lines, comparable to the standards 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. The combination of the radical scavenging activity and antiproliferative activity of compound 25 positions this compound as a potential lead candidate for further optimization.     

Optical probing of laser-induced shock waves in air

Shock Waves (SW) were produced in air by focusing the (0.25 J, 6 ns) second-harmonic ( = 532 nm) Nd : YAG laser light into a stainless-steel cylindrical cell at a pressure from 200 to 760 Torr. The laser fluence at the focal point is > 5 GW/cm². The spatial variation and consequently the time evolution of the radial propagation velocityU of the generated shock waves were measured via a simple optical system utilizing a HeNe laser beam triply intersecting the propagating shock wave at three successive positions. Using a reflector, we were able to probe the traveling SW in six consecutive positions during its round trip. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental results and the predictions of the point strong explosion theory. It is shown that this method is simple with a fairly good precision. It therefore appears to be useful for the determination of the SW dynamic parameters, namely its Mach number, the pressure at the SW front, the thickness of the compressed air layer and the energy consumed in producing this layer.     

Identification and imaging of hot O2 (v″=2, 3, or 4) in hydrogen flames using 193 nm- and 210 nm-range light

Some simple molecules can be excited by light within the tuning ranges of ArF (193–194 nm) and KrF (247.8–248.8 nm) excimer lasers and their fluorescence has been previously used for imaging. Additional wavelength ranges should become available by Raman shifting. As a demonstration, we present excitation and fluorescence spectra from hot O₂ obtained (a) with tunable 193 nm-range light and (b) with that light shifted into the 210 nm range. All measurements are via predissociative upper states. In the 193 nm range, results are compared with those of Andresen's group. In the 210 nm range, the light is tuned to various excitation wavelengths in the (5 3), (8 4), and (7 4) bands of the B–X transition. The (7 4) excitations are well separated and the (7 v) fluoresence spectrum is in accord with Franck-Condon calculations. The wavelengths tend to overlap for the (5 3) and (8 4) excitations and the fluorescence is weaker. State-specific two-dimensional fluorescence images of an H₂-O₂ flame are obtained in both wavelength ranges to illustrate the use of the method.We acknowledge the National Science Foundation and the Donors of the Petroleum Research Fund, administered by the American Chemical Society, for support of this research     

Surface investigation of excimer laser irradiated phosphatized steel plates

Steel plates (St 14-05) of 1.5 mm thickness and coated with 1.5 m of ironzinc-phosphatehydrate (ASTM 29-1429) were irradiated with an XeCl-excimer laser (Siemens XP 2020) at energy densities of 20–80 mJ/mm² and with 2–32 pulses per spot. Depth-sensitive Mössbauer spectroscopy was carried out by means of conversion electron (CEMS) and conversion X-ray (CXMS) Mössbauer spectroscopy in order to determine the phases produced by the excimer laser treatment. Although the phosphate layer is mainly ablated during the laser treatment, there is a significant formation of Fe₂P. The phosphorous phase and the wüstite, with changing stoichiometries, were found in the very surface (CEMS). In deeper layers and in correlation with the energy density and the number of pulses, austenite was found in surprisingly high amounts (CEMS and CXMS). The austenite was found to be nitrogen austenite. The high Fe-N austenite content as well as the presence of some ferromagnetic Fe-N phase (-Fe_2+xN) must be ascribed to an unexpectedly high nitriding effect during the laser treatment.     

Highly selective and efficient multiphoton dissociation of polyatomic molecules in multiple-frequency IR-laser fields

An ir multiphoton dissociation (MPD) process in multiple-frequency ir-laser fields has been experimentally realized. A selectivity ofS=10⁴ was obtained in separating¹³C/¹²C isotopes upon multiple-frequency ir multiphoton dissociation (MFMPD) of the CF₂HCl molecule, the dissociation yield¹³ for the¹³CF₂HCl molecule amounting to around 1%. A yield of¹³ was reached at a selectivity ofS=10², and the total laser fluence required for the process was reduced. A new mechanism—sticking of molecules on the lower discrete vibrational levels—responsible for the low MPD yields observed for some molecules is discussed and a technique to eliminate it and thus maximize the dissociation yields is proposed. Ways to improve the selectivity by MFMPD are analyzed and a simple method for obtaining from a single TEA CO₂ laser a multiple-frequency radiation suitable for experimental realization of MFMPD is suggested.     

Entropy,information theory,and the approach to equilibrium of coupled harmonic oscillator systems

Finite segments of infinite chains of classical coupled harmonic oscillators are treated as models of thermodynamic systems in contact with a heat bath, i.e., canonical ensembles. The Liouville function for the infinite chain is reduced by integrating over the outside variables to a function _N of the variables of theN-particle segment that is the thermodynamic system. The reduced Liouville function _N which is calculated from the dynamics of the infinite chain and the statistical knowledge of the coordinates and momenta att = 0, is a time-dependent probability density in the 2N-dimensional phase space of the system. A Gibbs entropy defined in terms of _N measures the evolution of knowledge of the system (more accurately, the growth of missing pertinent information) in the sense of information theory. As ¦t ¦ , energy is equipartitioned, the entropy evolves to the value expected from equilibrium statistical mechanics, and _N evolves to an equilibrium distribution function. The simple chain exhibits diffusion in coordinate space, i.e., Brownian motion, and the diffusivity is shown to depend only on the initial distribution of momenta (not of coordinates) in the heat bath. The harmonically bound chain, in the limit of weak coupling, serves as an excellent model for the approach to equilibrium of a canonical ensemble of weakly interacting particles.