CEMS of Sb+ implanted stainless steels

Martensitic transformations have been analysed in a series of antimony implanted austenitic stainless steels using CEMS. The implanted samples contain about 70 vols martensite, which is considerably more than can be formed conventionally by plastic deformation or cooling below the martensite start temperature. CEM spectra from implantation induced martensite and from martensite formed in conventional processes are virtually identical. In both cases the hyperfine field is ≈ 25T.     

Stress Corrosion Cracking of Metals and Alloys in Aggressive H2S–CO2–Cl– Environments

Technical Physics - We have analyzed the data on stress corrosion cracking of steels of various grades in acidic H2S–CO2–Cl– solutions. For the active region of corrosion, we have...     

CaO-SiO_2-Al_2O_3渣系连铸保护渣结构的拉曼光谱研究

在高铝钢连铸过程中,钢水中的Al与CaO-SiO2基连铸保护渣中的SiO2反应导致保护渣中SiO2含量降低而Al2O3含量大幅增加,CaO-SiO2基转变为CaO-SiO2-Al2O3基连铸保护渣而影响高铝钢连铸,所以研究CaO-SiO2基向CaO-SiO2-Al2O3基保护渣转变过程中结构上发生的变化有助于开发出满足高铝钢连铸需求的保护渣。本文利用拉曼光谱研究了CaO-SiO2基和CaO-SiO2-Al2O3基连铸保护渣的结构特点。研究结果表明,CaO-SiO2基保护渣主要由Q0,Q1,Q2和Q3等微结构单元构成的硅酸盐网络结构;当转变为CaO-SiO2-Al2O3基保护渣后,渣样中的网络破坏体优先用于破坏硅酸盐网络结构,当渣中SiO2含量较低时,部分网络破坏体会促进Al 3+形成[AlO4]四面体结构。渣中生成的[AlO4]四面体会进入硅酸盐网络结构形成铝硅酸盐网络结构,以Al-O-Al或Al-O-Si等方式连接,导致渣样结构变得复杂多变。使用Li2O对Na2O和CaO对MgO等摩尔替代研究表明相同价态离子之间的替换能够改变[AlO4]四面体在硅酸盐网络结构上的连接方式,导致CaO-SiO2-Al2O3基保护渣渣样结构易受成分变化而改变;CaF2对CaO等摩尔替代研究发现,当渣中CaF2小于13mol%,CaF2促进渣样网络结构解体,当高于13mol%时,CaF2又会导致渣样聚合度增加。由此可见,在设计CaO-SiO2-Al2O3基保护渣时,既要考虑不同种类离子对渣样结构产生的影响,又要考虑离子含量的影响。     

Fracture Assessment of Notched Bainitic Functionally Graded Steels under Mixed Mode (I + II) Loading

The averaged value of the strain-energy density over a well-defined volume is one of the powerful criteria to assess the static strength of U- and V-notched specimens. This contribution is the first to investigate the effect of notch parameters (notch radius, notch depth and notch opening angle) for fracture assessment of specimens weakened by blunt V-notches made of bainitic functionally graded steels under mixed mode loading (I + II). A numerical method has been used to evaluate the boundary of the control volume, the mean value of the strain-energy density and the critical fracture load. Different values of the notch radius (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm), notch depth (5.5, 6.0 and 6.5 mm), notch opening angle (30°, 60° and 90°) and distance of the applied load from the notch bisector line (5 and 10 mm) have been considered. Moreover, this contribution shows that the mean value of the strain-energy density over the control volume can also be accurately determined from a coarse mesh for functionally graded steels.     

Deposition of duplex Al2O3/aluminum coatings on steel using a combined technique of arc spraying and plasma electrolytic oxidation

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is a cost-effective technique that can be used to prepare ceramic coatings on metals such as Ti, Al, Mg, Nb, etc., and their alloys, but this promising technique cannot be used to modify the surface properties of steels, which are the most widely used materials in engineering. In order to prepare metallurgically bonded ceramic coatings on steels, a combined technique of arc spraying and plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) was adopted. In this work, metallurgically bonded ceramic coatings on steels were obtained using this method. We firstly prepared aluminum coatings on steels by arc spraying, and then obtained the metallurgically bonded ceramic coatings on aluminum coatings by PEO. The characteristics of duplex coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion and wear resistance of the ceramic coatings were also studied. The results show that, duplex Al₂O₃/aluminum coatings have been deposited on steel substrate after the combined treatment. The ceramic coatings are mainly composed of α-Al₂O₃, γ-Al₂O₃, θ-Al₂O₃ and some amorphous phase. The duplex coatings show favorable corrosion and wear resistance properties. The investigations indicate that the combination of arc spraying and plasma electrolytic oxidation proves a promising technique for surface modification of steels for protective purposes.     

Evaluation of boron mobility on the phases FeB, Fe2B and diffusion zone in AISI 1045 and M2 steels

The present study evaluates the growth kinetics of boride layers at the material surface on AISI 1045 and M2 steels during the paste boriding process. This surface hardening technique produces on the material two characteristic phases FeB, Fe₂B and a transition zone, denominated diffusion zone, in the layer/substrate interface. The thermochemical treatment was done at three different temperatures: 1193, 1223 and 1273 K with two treatment times: 2 and 6 h for the 1045 steel, and 1223, 1253 and 1273 K with the same treatment times for M2 steel, modifying the boron potentials in equilibrium at the substrates surfaces. Using the mass balance equation, and assuming a linear concentration profile at the interfaces, the mobility of boron was determined on both types of steels. The influence of boron potential, treatment time and temperatures is clearly observed on the growth kinetics of boride layers.     

采用激光诱导击穿光谱技术测定合金钢中锰和硅的含量

基于激光诱导击穿光谱(LIBS)技术定量分析多品种合金钢中锰(Mn)和硅(Si)的浓度,采用的校正方法为多元二次非线性函数定标方法。分析的钢种有普通合金钢、不锈钢、碳素工具钢等。由于不同钢种在基体组成上存在较大差异,而且钢的光谱还存在复杂的谱线重叠干扰,所以受基体效应影响严重。因此,对钢这类复杂化学体系物质的定量分析,若采用单谱线信息的校正方法会造成很多有用信息的丢失,而采用多变量的定标法会更充分利用光谱中的信息,更有效校正多基体组分的基体效应,进而提高LIBS定量分析的重复性和准确性。相比线性标准定标曲线法,测量结果的相对标准差从20%以上降低到10%以下,Mn元素测量结果的准确度提高了5倍多,Si元素提高了6倍多。     

Beta-induced bremsstrahlung shielding parameters in various types of steels

ABSTRACT

Present work studies the bremsstrahlung efficiency, bremsstrahlung dose rate, probability of energy loss by beta during bremsstrahlung emission and specific bremsstrahlung constant of the beta radionuclide for various steels such as XM-5, 317LM, XM-17216, AL-6XN, JS700, NIROSTA 4565S and stainless steel. We have compared the shielding properties among the studied different steels. From the detailed study, the steel type 317LM is having the highest bremsstrahlung dose rate and specific bremsstrahlung constant values than the other studied steels. This means the steel type 317LM is a good absorber of bremsstrahlung radiation than the other studied steels. Hence it is better to use the steel type 317LM in the nuclear power plants than stainless steels and other steels to avoid the secondary radiation such as bremsstrahlung.     

Analysis of swelling behaviour of ferritic/martensitic steels

Ferritic/martensitic steels show exceptional void-swelling resistance during neutron irradiation compared to conventional austenitic stainless steels, such as Types 316 and 304. Explanations for the difference have been proposed based on the different crystal structures and the different microstructures of the steels. In this paper, swelling behaviour of ferritic/martensitic steels HT9 and modified 9Cr–Mo are analysed to demonstrate how the complicated tempered martensite microstructure determines their excellent swelling resistance. The variation in steady-state swelling rate observed for different heats and different heat treatments is explained in terms of how chemical composition and heat treatment affect the microstructure. Microstructures of these steels are characteristically non-uniform, containing precipitate-rich and precipitate-deficient regions. Swelling resistance increases as number and size of precipitate-deficient regions are reduced by proper heat treatment.     

Quantitative analysis of Mn and Si of alloy steels by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

The concentration of Mn and Si in different kinds of steels was determined by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The multivariate quadratic nonlinear function was adopted for calibration. Samples including common alloy steels, stainless steels and carbon tool steels were analyzed. The matrix effect was serious because of large difference in compositions of different kinds of steels and strong line overlaps in steel spectra. Therefore, the common calibration methods that only use one analytical line to calibrate the complex chemical compositions of alloy steels will lose much information. The multivariate calibration methods, however, can utilize more information of spectra, successfully reduce the matrix effect and improve the measurement repeatability and accuracy of LIBS. Compared with the common calibration method based on one analytical line, the relative standard deviation was reduced from above 20% to below 10%, and the accuracy was increased by more than 5 times for Mn and more than 6 times for Si.     

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.     

Computational design of precipitation strengthened austenitic heat-resistant steels

A new genetic alloy design approach based on thermodynamic and kinetic principles is presented to calculate the optimal composition of MX carbonitrides precipitation strengthened austenitic heat-resistant steels. Taking the coarsening of the MX carbonitrides as the process controlling the life time for steels in high temperature use, the high temperature strength is calculated as a function of steel chemistry, service temperature and time. New steel compositions for different service conditions are found yielding optimal combinations of strength and stability of the strengthening precipitation for specific applications such as fire-resistant steels (short-time property guarantee) and creep-resistant steels (long-time property guarantee). Using the same modelling approach, the high temperature strength and lifetime of existing commercial austenitic creep-resistant steels were also calculated and a good qualitative agreement with reported experimental results was obtained. According to the evaluation parameter employed, the newly defined steel compositions may have higher and more stable precipitation strengthening factors than existing high-temperature precipitate-strengthened austenite steels.     

Helium effects on the microstructural evolution of reactor irradiated ferritic and austenitic steels

Abstract

Microstructural evolution in neutron irradiated austenitic stainless steels and Cr-Mo ferritic steels is reviewed. Important highlights are: (1) there is a strong correlation between precipitation and void evolution in austenitic steels; (2) helium affects precipitate evolution in austenitic steels, but observations indicate no effect on precipitation in ferritic steels; (3) helium has a pronounced effect on the cavity evolution of the two steel types. Helium effects are explained in terms of the interrelationship between microstructural evolution and point-defect annihilation processes. In stainless steel, three relative regimes of microstructural behavior for different helium generation rate-displacement rate ratios are recognized: (1) “low” He/dpa ratio, where helium effects on the radiation-induced microstructural evolution are negligible or develop slowly, (2) “medium” He/dpa ratio, where helium effects strongly enhance the microstructural changes, and (3) “high” He/dpa ratio, where helium effects are limited to the early development of a high density of fine bubbles which interfere with other radiation-induced microstructural changes, but allow enhanced thermal microstructural evolution to take place instead. The extensive data on austenitic steels fall within these regimes. Ferritic steels are known to be highly resistant to void swelling without helium. It is suggested that enhanced cavity formation due to helium in ferritic steels makes higher swelling a potential concern for fusion reactor applications.     

主成分回归法同时测定Cu2+、Pb2+、Hg2+和Cd2+

研究了用双硫腙光度法结合多元线性回归技术直接分析水相中有毒重金属离子的方法.结果表明,在β-环糊精和非离子表面活性剂Triton X-100的存在下,金属离子-双硫腙配位体系具有更高的灵敏度和稳定性.使用多元线性回归技术,可以在多种干扰金属离子共存的条件下,不经萃取和化学分离直接分析4种常见的有毒重金属离子.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the formation and growth of pearlite colonies in eutectoid steels

Optical and electron-microscopy observations of pearlite structures in eutectoid steels are described. These observations suggest that in such steels the processes of sidewise growth of pearlite colonies along grain boundaries may occur even though they were not observed in noneutectoid steels. A simple theoretical model is proposed to study the thermodynamics and kinetics of pearlite transformations. Simulations of the growth of pearlite colonies carried out on this model reveal that, for the usually assumed mechanism of volume diffusion of carbon, such growth is always unstable, and the steady-state growth can only be realized via interfacial carbon diffusion. A model is proposed for the formation of pearlite colonies near the grain boundaries of austenite. This model is based on the assumption that the diffusion of carbon is strongly enhanced near these boundaries, and it can be applied to plastically deformed steels. The results of simulations with this model qualitatively agree with some microstructural features of the formation of pearlite colonies observed in such steels.     

Study on corrosion properties of pipelines in simulated produced water saturated with supercritical CO2

This work aims at systematically investigating the corrosion properties of three pipeline steels in static simulated produced water (SPW) saturated with supercritical carbon dioxide using weight-loss tests. SEM, XRD and XPS were employed to study the chemical composition and structure of the corroded surface. The results showed that the corrosion rates of the tested steels significantly decreased with increasing the exposure temperature and time in static SPW saturated with SC-CO₂. The surface film on the corroded surface, which markedly influenced the CO₂ corrosion behavior of the samples, was mainly composed of (Fe, Ca)CO₃ and α-FeOOH. Inhomogeneous element distribution of carbon, oxygen, calcium and iron in the surface film was observed. (Fe, Ca)CO₃ formed at a lower temperature was more stable than that formed at elevated temperatures.     

New developments of advanced high-strength steels for automotive applications

Automotive industry asks for higher resistant steels to lighten parts and improve crash resistance. Keeping a good ductility while increasing tensile strength requires the development of new grades in which hardening mechanisms counteract the drop in elongation when enhancing mechanical resistance. This is mainly achieved with multiphase steels and completing dislocation hardening by twinning and martensite transformation during straining. This has led to high-strength steel families, some of them being already used in body in white (Dual Phase (DP) and TRIP steels). Others, still in development, will soon emerge on the market (Quenched and Partitioned (Q&P), medium-Mn steels or TWIP).     

Magnetic properties of stainless steels at room and cryogenic temperatures

The magnetic properties of ten types of ferritic and martensitic stainless steels have been measured at room temperature and at 77 K. The steel samples studied were in the annealed state as received from the manufacturer. Our room temperature measurements indicate significantly harder magnetic properties than those quoted in the ASM International Handbook, which studied fully annealed stainless steel samples. Despite having harder magnetic properties than fully annealed steels some of the as-received steels still display soft magnetic properties adequate for magnetic applications. The carbon content of the steels was found to affect the permeability and coercive force, with lower-carbon steels displaying significantly higher permeability and lower coercive force. The decrease in coercive force with reduced carbon content is attributed to fewer carbide inclusions which inhibit domain wall motion. Cooling to 77 K resulted in harder magnetic properties. Averaged over the ten steels tested the maximum permeability decreased by 8%, the coercive force increased by 14%, and the residual and saturation flux densities increased by 4% and 3%, respectively. The change in coercive force when cooled is comparable to the theoretical prediction for iron, based on a model of domain wall motion inhibited by inclusions. The modest changes of the magnetic properties indicate that the stainless steels can still be used in magnetic applications at very low temperatures.     

An investigation of the laser cutting process with the aid of a plane polarized CO2 laser beam

A plane polarized power beam was used to investigate the reactive gas-assisted laser cutting process. This paper gives further experimental support for the theory of the existence of two different regimes in the oxygen-assisted cutting of steels and explains the dependence of the process on Fe-O₂ exothermic reactions.     

Structure,hardening and failure of high nitrogen austenite steels after plastic deformation under pressure

Abstract

Change of the fine structure of high nitrogen austenite steels deformed under high hydrostatic pressure was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The increase of pressure and deformation degree results in higher twinning intensity and consequently in substantial hardening of the studied steels. The strain hardening curves were analyzed and the regions were determined where high nitrogen steels could be deformed without macroscopic destruction depending on the deformation degree under preliminary hydroextrusion.