Finite element analysis of type IV cracking in 2.25Cr–1Mo steel weldment based on micro-mechanistic approach

Creep studies were carried out on 2.25Cr–1Mo steel base metal and its fusion-welded weldments at 823?K over the stress range 100–240?MPa. The weldment possessed lower creep rupture strength than the base metal due to type IV failure at the outer edge of the heat-affected zone (HAZ). Premature failure of the weldment was associated with pronounced creep cavitation accompanied with localized creep deformation in the soft intercritical region of the HAZ that was sandwiched between relatively higher creep deformation-resistant microstructural regions. The cavitation was associated with coarse intergranular precipitates in the intercritical region of the HAZ. The type IV cracking in the intercritical region of the HAZ was found to initiate deep inside the weldment and propagate towards the specimen surface. Finite element analysis of stress and strain distributions across the weldment was carried out considering the micro-mechanical strength inhomogeneity across it to explain the observed features of type IV cracking. The estimated higher von-Mises and principal stresses deep inside the intercritical region of the HAZ of the weldment led to the localized creep deformation and preferential cavity nucleation and growth, resulting in type IV failure of the weldment. The role of intergranular precipitate particles in the intercritical region of the HAZ in facilitating creep cavity nucleation by the exhaustion of creep ductility of the material close to the precipitate was corroborated from finite element analysis of stress and strain distribution around the precipitates.     

Proton-induced grain boundary segregation in stainless steel

Abstract

A technique is developed which addresses the problem of irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking of stainless steels in light water reactors using high energy protons to induce grain boundary segregation. These results represent the first grain boundary segregation measurements in bulk produced by proton irradiation of stainless steel. The technique allows the study of grain boundary composition with negligible sample activation, short irradiation time, rapid sample turnaround and at minimal cost. Scanning Auger electron microscopy is used to obtain grain boundary composition measurements of irradiated and unirradiated samples of ultra high purity (UHP) type 304L stainless steel and UHP type 304L steels with the additions of phosphorus (UHP + P) and sulphur (UHP + S). Results show that irradiation of all three alloys causes significant Ni segregation to the grain boundary and Cr and Fe away from it. Irradiation of the UHP + P alloy also results in segregation of P at the grain boundary from 5.3 to 8.7 at %, over 80 times the bulk value. No radiation-induced grain boundary segregation of S was measured in the UHP + S alloy. Results also indicate that the presence of P or S may enhance radiation-induced segregation of major alloying elements at the boundary. Comparison of irradiated and unirradiated regions of the UHP + P alloy indicate that while a prior thermal treatment segregates P to the grain boundary to 5.3 at %, the major element concentrations at the grain boundary are completely different from those under irradiation.     

Combining TEM and APFIM techniques to study the microstructure of steels and hardmetals

This paper describes the benefits of combining transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe field ion microscopy (APFIM) techniques to study the microstructure of steels and hardmetals. In addition to energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), recent experience of electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy filtered TEM (EFTEM) is treated. Topics covered are: phase composition (APFIM, TEM/EDS and TEM/EELS); precipitate size distribution (EFTEM); precipitate volume fraction (APFIM); and compositional gradients (APFIM, EFTEM and SEM). Examples given include precipitate composition and size distribution in creep resistant 9–12% chromium steels, phase distribution and composition in nitrogen containing hardmetals (cermets) after sintering and heat treatment, and boron grain boundary segregation in austenitic stainless steels.     

Damage mechanism of nickel-based creep-resistant alloys strengthened by the Laves phase at the grain boundary

ABSTRACT

This study proposes a design guideline for polycrystal Ni-based model alloys with high ductility and 100-MPa creep rupture strength beyond 800°C and 10^5?h. These alloys are strengthened by both the precipitation of fine γ′ particles inside the grain and the Laves phase at the grain boundary. For investigating the damage mechanism, transformation from the non-equilibrium Laves phase to the σ phase at the grain boundary and formation of the equilibrium needle-like Laves phase inside the grain are promoted by increasing the Fe concentration. The rupture time of Fe-free alloys significantly increases because of the equilibrium Laves phase at the grain boundary owing to a suitable Mo equivalent. In particular, W addition can help achieve high-temperature creep strength. The precipitate-free zone (PFZ) is predominantly formed by prior migration at the grain boundary without precipitation. Creep rupture occurs at the precipitation/matrix interface in the PFZ. Therefore, transformation control from the Laves to the σ phase at the grain boundary suppresses creep degradation. Consequently, a Ni-based alloy with strength >100?MPa and rupture elongation >20% at 800°C and 10^5?h is fabricated using Larson–Miller parameter conversion, and the alloy design guideline’s validity is confirmed.     

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.     

Microstructural aspects of long-term creep ductility of AISI 316 LN steel

Microstructural aspects of the creep plasticity and impact strength of non-stabilized austenitic CrNiMo steels with two different nitrogen contents have been evaluated. During creep exposure an intergranular precipitation of the sigma phase, M₂₃C₆ or/and Cr₂N particles produce favourable conditions for transition from typically intergranular fracture to ductile shear fractures or to intergranular ductile fractures with characteristic dimple morphology. A given type of fractures is accompanied with high values of the relative creep rupture elongation (up to 100%) dependent on temperature and time to rupture.     

Structural and electronic properties of sulphur-doped boron nitride nanotubes

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory were performed to study the structural and electronic properties of sulphur substitution-doped boron nitride (BN) nanotubes, using the theory as implemented in SIESTA code, which uses non-conserving pseudo-potentials in fully non-local form and atomic orbitals as the basis set. The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) was used for the exchange–correlation (XC) potential. The tube selected was a (10, 0) BN nanotube that fell in the range of energy gap independent of the tube diameter. The electronic and structural properties for sulphur substitution in the boron and the nitrogen sites were studied. The structural arrangement in equilibrium conditions for S shows an outward radial deformation around the sulphur atom in the tube. The bandgap of the pristine BN nanotubes was found to be significantly modified on doping.     

Corrosion behavior of boride layers evaluated by the EIS technique

The corrosion behavior of boride layers at the AISI 304 steel surface is evaluated in the present study. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique was used for the evaluation of the polarization resistance at the steel surface, with the aid of AUTOLAB potentiostat. Samples were treated with boron paste thickness of 4 and 5 mm, in the range of temperatures 1123 ≤ T ≤ 1273 K and exposed time of 4 and 6 h. The electrochemical technique employed 10 mV AC with a frequency scan range from 8 kHz to 3 mHz in deaerated 0.1 M NaCl solution. Nyquist diagrams show that the highest values of corrosion resistance are present in the samples borided at the temperature of 1273 K, with treatment time of 4 h and 4 mm of boron paste thickness. The values of corrosion resistance on borided steels are compared with the porosity exhibited in the layers.     

Segregation and adsorption of sulphur on Ni50Fe50(100) alloy: Studies of the surface composition and structure and of the effects on the passivation

The surface composition of Ni₅₀Fe₅₀(100) alloy was studied and the segregation and adsorption of sulphur were investigated by AES, LEED and radiotracer (³⁵S) techniques. Ion etching produces a surface composition identical to the matrix composition (Ni:Fe=1:1). In the temperature range 300–600°C iron segregates on the surface and nitrogen was detected. Heating to higher temperatures (>600°C) also causes the segregation of iron as well as the segregation of sulphur. The durface reaches a stable composition that does not depend on further changes of the temperature in the range 25–800°C. It consists of an almost complete monolayer of iron segregated on the alloy. The segregation of sulphur leads to the formation of a c(2×2) structure. A sulphur coverage of 45 ng cm^-2, consistent with the c(2×2) structure, was measured by the radiotracer method after chemisorption in gaseous H₂S/H₂ mixtures at 550° and 200 Torr. This sulphur monolayer is stable in a range of p_H2S/p_H2=7.4 × 10^-5-6×10^-4. Above this pressure, a preferential sulphidation of iron is observed. The effects of sulphur on the anodic dissolution and passivation of the alloy in acid solution were studied. Adsorbed sulphur promotes the dissolution and delays the passivation. When the alloy is doped with sulphur, bulk sulphur accumulates on the surface during the dissolution of Ni and Fe. This anodic segregation leads to the formation of an adsorbed layer of sulphur, followed by the growth of a sulphide which blocks the formation of the protective oxide film.     

Influence of treating frequency on microstructure and properties of Al2O3 coating on 304 stainless steel by cathodic plasma electrolytic deposition

Alumina ceramic coatings were fabricated on 304 stainless steel by cathodic plasma electrolytic deposition (CPED). Influence of treating frequency of the power supply on the microstructure and properties of the coatings were studied. The results indicated that coatings obtained at various frequencies on 304 stainless steels were all composed of α-Al₂O₃ and γ-Al₂O₃, and α-Al₂O₃ was the dominant phase. The contents of α-Al₂O₃ decreased gradually in a very small rate with increasing the frequency and γ-Al₂O₃ gradually increased. The surface of alumina ceramic coating was porous. With increasing the frequency, the coating surface gradually became less rough and more compact, resulting in low surface roughness. The bonding strength of Al₂O₃ coating was higher than 22 MPa and was not strongly affected by treating frequency. With increasing the frequency, the alumina coated steels showed better and gradually increasing corrosion resistance than the uncoated one in 3.5% NaCl solution. The coating steel with desirable corrosion resistance was obtained at 800 Hz whose corrosion current potential and corrosion density were −0.237 V and 7.367 × 10⁻⁸ A/cm², respectively.     

毛刺状竹节结构氮化硼纳米管的合成与生长机理

以非晶硼和氧化镍纳米颗粒为原料,在氨气中1100 oC下合成了毛刺状竹节结构的氮化硼纳米管. 利用X射线衍射和透射电镜研究了氮化硼纳米管的结构和形貌. 竹节结构纳米管表面的毛刺是六方氮化硼的纳米薄片. 提出了一种基于固态硼和气态二氧化硼扩散的毛刺形貌生长机理.     

Evolution of steel surface composition with heating in vacuum and in air

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate the changes in surface composition of three steels as they have undergone heating. The steels were mild steel, and two austenitic stainless steels, commonly designated 304 and 316 stainless steels. XPS measurements were made on the untreated samples, and then following heating for 30 min in vacuo and in a 1 × 10⁻⁶ Torr partial pressure of air, at temperatures between 100 °C and 600 °C.Mild steel behaves differently to the two stainless steels under the heating conditions. In mild steel the iron content of the surface increased, with oxygen and carbon decreasing, as a function of increasing temperature. The chemical state of the iron also changed from oxide at low temperatures, to metallic at temperatures above 450 °C.In both stainless steels the amount of iron present in the surface decreased with increasing temperature. The decrease in iron at the surface was accompanied by an increase in the amount of chromium at the steel surface. At temperatures above 450 °C the iron in both 304 and 316 stainless steels showed significant contributions from metallic iron, whilst the chromium present was in an oxide state. In 316 stainless steel heated to 600 °C there was some metallic chromium present in the surface layer.The surfaces heated in air showed the least variation in composition, with the major change being the loss of carbon from the surfaces following heating above 300 °C. There was also a minor increase in the concentration of chromium present on both the stainless steels heated under these conditions. There was also little change in the oxidation state of the iron and chromium present on the surface of these steels. There was some evidence of the thickening of the surface oxides as seen by the loss of the lower binding energy signal in the iron or chromium core level scans.The surfaces heated in vacuum showed a similar trend in the concentration of carbon on the surfaces, however the overall concentration of oxygen decreased throughout the heating of these steels. There were also significant changes in the oxidation state of the iron and chromium on these surfaces with significant amounts or iron and chromium present in the metallic form following heating up to 600 °C.It appears that the carbon contamination on the surfaces plays an important role in the fate of the surface oxide layer for all of the steels heated in a vacuum environment.     

Effect of oxidizing environments on the diffusion-segregation boron distribution in the thermal silicon dioxide-silicon system

The diffusion-segregation boron distribution in the silicon dioxide-silicon system upon oxidation in different environments is studied by secondary-ion mass spectrometry and numerical simulation. The coefficient of boron segregation at the SiO₂/Si interface and the enhancement of boron diffusion in silicon as functions of the type of oxidizing environment (dry oxygen, wet oxygen, and the presence of hydrochloric acid vapor), the orientation of the silicon surface, and the temperature of oxidizing annealing are obtained. A qualitative model is proposed based on the assumption that the segregation mass transfer of boron through the SiO₂/Si interface is associated with the generation of nonequilibrium intrinsic interstitials.     

高能重离子辐照的ODS铁素体钢脆化效应研究

与传统的铁素体钢相比,氧化物弥散强化(ODS) 的铁素体钢具有更优的耐高温和抗辐照性能,近年来成为先进核能装置重要的候选结构材料。在HIRFL 的扇聚焦型回旋加速器(SFC) 材料辐照终端,对一种氧化物弥散强化(ODS) 铁素体钢MA956 进行了高能Ne 离子辐照实验,旨在研究级联碰撞损伤和惰性气体原子注入条件下该材料力学性能的变化。利用辐照终端的能量衰减装置将SFC出口123.4 MeV的离子能量分解为介于38.5~121.0 MeV之间的30 个入射能量值,并通过双面辐照在厚度60 μm的样品中均匀产生了损伤。辐照剂量为9x1016 ions/cm2,在样品中的平均位移损伤为0.7 dpa,注入的Ne原子浓度为350 appm。辐照期间样品温度保持在440 ℃附近。对辐照前后的样品分别在室温和500 ℃下进行了小冲杆试验(Small-punchTest),获得了辐照前后样品的加载位移曲线,由此得到该辐照条件下样品的延性损失为18%~26%。通过扫描电子显微镜观察了断口形貌和厚度变化,估算了样品的等效断裂应变和断裂韧性。结果表明,MA956 钢经过高能Ne离子辐照后等延伸率减小,断裂韧性降低,样品发生了一定的脆化。透射电镜结果说明氧化物弥散相界面处微空洞的形成可能是导致脆化的原因。Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steels have better high-temperature creep rupture strength and higher irradiation resistance than conventional ferritic steels, and show high prominence of application in advance nuclear reactors. Their stability under high-dose radiation conditions needs to be clarified. In the present study, a commercial ODS ferritic steel MA956 were irradiated with high 20Ne ions at a terminal chamber of the Sector-focused Cyclotron (SFC) at HIRFL (Heavy-ion Research Facility in Lanzhou). With the energy gradient degrader of the irradiation chamber, the primary energy (123.4 MeV) of the Ne-ion was dispersed into 30 different energies between 38.5~ 121.0 MeV, which resulted in a plateau distribution of lattice damage in the specimens. The specimens were irradiated from both sides so that the whole 60 m thickness was nearly uniformly damaged. The specimen temperature was maintained around 440 ℃ during the irradiation. The irradiation dose is about 9x1016 ions/cm2, corresponding to a damage level of 0.7 dpa and a Ne concentration of 350 appm. The specimens before and after irradiation were tested with the Small-punch Test technique, at room temperature and 500 ℃, respectively. The fracture morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy.The results show that MA956 underwent some loss of ductility and fracture toughness after the irradiation with high-energy 20Ne ions. It may be ascribed to the formation of nano-scale cavities at the oxides/matrix interfacesin the ODS steel specimens under irradiation .     

Novel processing of Barkhausen noise signal for assessment of residual stress in surface ground components exhibiting poor magnetic response

The Barkhausen Noise Analysis (BNA) technique has been utilised to assess surface integrity of steels. But the BNA technique is not very successful in evaluating surface integrity of ground steels that exhibit poor micro-magnetic response. A new approach has been proposed for the processing of BN signal and two newly proposed parameters, namely ‘count’ and ‘event’, have been shown to correlate linearly with the residual stress upon grinding, with judicious choice of user defined ‘threshold’, even when the micro-magnetic response of the work material is poor. In the present study, residual stress induced upon conventional plunge surface grinding of hardened bearing steel has been investigated along with unhardened bearing steel for benchmarking. Moreover, similar correlation has been established, when primarily compressive stress is induced upon high speed grinding using cBN wheel with moderately deep cut suppressing the micro-magnetic response from the ground medium carbon steel as the work material.     

Effects of endohedral element in B24N24 clusters on hydrogenation studied by molecular orbital calculations

Possibility of hydrogen gas storage in boron nitride (BN) clusters was investigated by molecular orbital calculations. Chemisorption calculation was carried out for B₂₄N₂₄ with changing endohedral elements in BN cluster to compare the bonding energy at nitrogen and boron, which showed that Li is a suitable element for hydrogenation to B₂₄N₂₄.     

用内耗方法研究铜的蠕变断裂过程

在文献[1]关于工业纯铝研究的基础上,研究了工业纯铜在不同条件下蠕变过程中晶界内耗峰的变化,蠕变条件分为三类:(a)较高温度、较低应力;(b)中等温度、中等应力;(c)较低温度、较高应力;使试样分别发生晶间型、混合型和穿晶型的断裂。由晶界内耗峰的变化可以推知:在较高温度、较低应力的蠕变过程中,晶界强度变化不大;在中等温度、中等应力的蠕变过程中,晶界强度有一定程度的提高;在较低温度、较高应力的蠕变过程中,晶界强度则有比较显著的提高。这说明,在蠕变过程中,晶界强度是变化着的,在不同的蠕变条件下,晶界强化的程度不同,最终导致了不同类型的蠕变断裂。这对于“等强温度”概念是一个修正和补充。 关键词：     

Modeling creep in L12-superstructure single crystals

Creep curves for compression and extension under constant loads and constant external stress are calculated using a model of the creep of L1₂-superstructure single crystals. It is shown that features of the creep in alloys with L1₂ superstructure can be explained via the superpositioning of normal and anomalous deformation mechanisms. It is established that during creep, the localization of deformation, which can lead to inverse creep, is important.     

Engineering the residual stress state and microstructure of stainless steel with mechanical surface treatments

Four mechanical surface treatments have been considered for the application to austenitic stainless steel structures. Shot peening (SP), laser shock peening (LSP), ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) and water jet cavitation peening (WJCP), also known as cavitation shotless peening (CSP), have been applied to 8 mm thick Type 304 austenitic stainless steel coupons. This study considers the merits of each of these mechanical surface treatments in terms of their effect on the surface roughness, microstructure, level of plastic work and through thickness residual stress distribution. Microstructural studies have revealed the formation of martensite close to the treated surface for each process. Residual stress measurements in the samples show compressive stresses to a significantly greater depth for the LSP, UIT and WJCP samples compared to the more conventional SP treated sample.     

Hydrogen storage in boron nitride and carbon clusters studied by molecular orbital calculations

Possibility of hydrogen gas storage in carbon (C) and boron nitride (BN) clusters was investigated by molecular orbital calculations. Chemisorption calculation was carried out for C₆₀, B₂₄N₂₄ and B₃₆N₃₆ with changing position of hydrogen atom to compare the bonding energy at carbon, nitrogen and boron, tetragonal and hexagonal rings. Chemisorption calculation of hydrogen for BN clusters showed that hydrogen bondings with nitrogen atoms and tetragonal rings were the most stable. Stability of H₂ molecules inside BN and C clusters was also investigated by molecular orbital calculations. C and BN clusters showed possibility of hydrogen storage of 6.5 and 4.9 wt%, respectively.