Geometric modelling of viscosity of copper-containing liquid alloys

In this work, viscosities of ternary Au–Ag–Cu and Al–Cu–Si liquid alloys have been calculated as a function of gold, aluminium and copper compositions for the sections Au–Ag–Cu (x_Ag/x_Cu = 0.543 at 1373 K), Al_x(Cu₅₀–Si₅₀)_(1–x) and Cu_x(Al₅₀–Si₅₀)_(1–x) at 1375 K using Chou’s general solution model, Muggianu, Kohler, Toop, Hillert, Budai et al., Kozlov et al., Schick et al. and Kaptay et al. models. The present study finds that a comparison of the predicted values of viscosities associated with the geometric and physical models indicate good mutual agreement. The Muggianu model indicates the best agreement with the results obtained for Au–Ag–Cu and Al_x–Cu₅₀–Si₅₀ alloy systems and the Kaptay et al. model, which is a physical model, indicates the best agreement with the results obtained for Al₅₀–Cu_x–Si₅₀.     

An investigation on surface tensions of Pb-free solder materials

Surface tensions of some Pb-free solder systems such as Ag–Bi–Sn with cross-sections Ag/Bi = 1/1, Ag/Bi = 1/2, Ag/Bi = 2/1, In–Sn–Zn with cross-sections Sn/In = 1/1, Sn/In = 1/3 and (Ag₇Cu₃)_100?x Sn_x with cross-section Ag/Cu = 7/3 are calculated from the sub-binary surface tension data using the models, such as the Muggianu, Kohler, Toop models, Butler’s equation and Chou’s General Solution Model (GSM) at 873, 923 and 1073 K, respectively. The surface tension of In–Sn–Zn increases wavily with increasing amount of Zn and it is found that the best models are the GSM for both cross-sections in question while GSM becomes the best model for (Ag₇Cu₃)_100?x Sn_x alloy in the whole experimental range. Moreover, the surface tension of (Ag₇Cu₃)_100?x Sn_x decreases slightly with increasing amount of Sn. The Muggianu, Butler and Butler models are determined as the best models for the cross-sections in the order given above for entire measurement range, respectively, and the surface tension of Ag–Bi–Sn decreases slightly with an increasing amount of Bi and Ag but increases with increasing Sn in liquid alloys.     

铸锭凝固组织对相应非晶合金晶化过程中二十面体准晶相形成动力学的影响

通过在真空电弧熔炼炉内对合金铸锭进行反复熔炼处理，获得到了凝固组织不同的Zr₆₅Al_7.5Cu_12.5Ni₁₀Ag₅合金铸锭.在相同的制备条件下，由凝固组织不同的合金铸锭通过吸铸法制备得到了薄片非晶合金.利用差示扫描量热法(DSC)对非晶合金的晶化动力学进行了分析.x射线衍射谱表明，在Zr₆₅Al_7.5Cu_12.5Ni₁₀Ag₅非晶合金晶化过程中，二十面体准晶相(I相)作为初生相析出.Kissinger分析结果表明，合金铸锭的凝固组织细化，相对应的非晶合金发生晶化时，I相形成与分解的有效激活能都增大，说明非晶合金及析出的I相的热稳定性都提高.从结构的遗传性角度就合金铸锭凝固组织对相应非晶合金晶化过程中二十面体准晶相的形成动力学的影响进行了讨论. 关键词： 二十面体准晶相 晶化动力学 凝固组织     

Phase transitions in CuS–Ag2S nanoparticle system

(Ag₂)_xCu_1?xS, x = .2, .4, .6 and .8 nanoparticles were synthesized by the solvothermal method. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction to study the crystal structure and size. The surface morphologies of the above samples were studied using scanning electron microscope. As there is continuous shift in the lower wavelength absorption edge of the UV–VIS spectrum of these samples with concentration, (Ag₂)_xCu_1?xS nanoparticles can be tuned to different band gap energies by varying the composition. The D.C. electrical resistance was measured in the temperature range 310–485 K. As Ag₂S transforms from monoclinic to bcc at around 450 K, copper sulfide nanoparticles also shows a phase transition at around 470 K, the effects of these two transitions are seen in the resistance measurements and in the UV–VIS spectra of the entire system. The electrical resistance of (Ag₂)_xCu_1?xS nanoparticles rapidly reduces as more and more copper sulfide is added.     

Microstructural investigation of Fe–Zr–B–Ag soft magnetic thin films

A microstructural study of DC-sputtered Fe_93−xZr₃B₄Ag_x films on Si(0 0 1) substrates has been carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All samples were deposited as a function of additive Ag content (x=0–6 at%), and annealed in the range of temperature, 300–600°C, for 1 h in order to obtain enhanced soft magnetic properties. Through XRD and TEM investigation, Ag-free Fe₉₃Zr₃B₄ films on Si(0 0 1) substrates consisted of nano-crystalline Fe-based phases. In the presence of Ag additive element, the microstructure of as-deposited Fe_93−xZr₃B₄Ag_x films consisted of a mixture of majority of Fe-based amorphous and Ag crystalline phases. In this case, additive element, Ag played a role in retarding the formation of Fe-based crystalline phases during deposition, and insoluble nano-crystalline Ag particles were dispersed in the Fe-based amorphous matrix. As the content of Ag increased, the intensity of Ag crystalline XRD peak increased. Crystallization of Fe-based amorphous phase in the matrix of Fe₈₈Zr₃B₄Ag₅ thin films occurred at an annealing temperature of 400°C. In the case of Fe₈₈Zr₃B₄Ag₅ films annealed at 500°C, a much enhanced permeability of the Fe-based alloy thin films associated with nano-crystalline phases was achieved.     

AgxCu50-xZr50非晶态合金及其晶化

采用高频熔炼后的真空单辊急冷技术制备了Ag_xCu_50-xZr₅₀金属玻璃,发现在x<12的范围内都可得到完全的非晶态。测量了x=2,4,6和10的Ag_xCu_50-xZr₅₀金属玻璃的玻璃转变温度和晶化温度,并采用Kissinger方法测定了晶化激活能E_a。发现在金属玻璃Ag_xCu_50-xZr_{50关键词：}     

Thermophysical properties of Cu–In–Sn liquid Pb-free alloys: viscosity and surface tension

The viscosity of a few Cu–In–Sn liquid alloys has been investigated by a number of geometric (Muggianu, Kohler, Toop) and physical thermodynamic models (Kozlov–Romanov–Petrov, Budai–Benko–Kaptay, Schick et al.) and GSM for the cross section (z/y = 1/3) in Pb-free liquid alloy Cu_x–In_y–Sn_z at 1073 K. Moreover, the surface tensions of the same liquid alloys have been investigated by a number of geometric models and the Butler model for the cross section Cu_x–In_y–Sn_z (z/(y + z) = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1) at the same temperature. The best agreement of the surface tensions was obtained in the Kohler model for x_Cu = 10 at % and the Butler model for x_Cu = 20 at % and x_Cu = 30 at.%, respectively. The best agreement among chosen geometric and physical models and experiment for these selected sections Cu₈₀In₁₅Sn₅, Cu₇₅In₁₅Sn₁₀, Cu₅₅In₇Sn₃₈, Cu₃₃In₅₀Sn₁₇ and Cu₂₆In₅₅Sn₁₉ at 1073 K was obtained for the Budai–Benkö–Kaptay model.     

AgI nanostructure development in sputter-disordered and Al-doped Ag films probed by XRD,SEM, optical absorption and photoluminescence

By use of thermal evaporation and rf magnetron sputtering 300 and 500 Å thick Ag and Ag (Al) films were prepared. γ-AgInanoparticles were formed during (a) short time (2–5 min) iodization of undoped thermally evaporated Ag films, (b) longer time (12 h) iodization of undoped rf sputtered Ag films and (c) short time (2–15 min) iodization of thermally evaporated Ag_0.95Al_0.05 and Ag_0.90Al_0.10 films of 500 and 300 Å thickness respectively. Both rf sputtered and Al doped Ag films yielded ～20 to ～60 nm sized γ-AgI particles upon iodization. Optical absorption spectra reveal Z_1,2 and Z₃ exciton transitions with increased broadening of γ-AgI nanoparticles, suggesting the effect of disorder produced during film formation. Blue shift observed with increasing film thickness could be the effect of decreasing particle size, thereby increasing the quantum confinement effects. Photoluminescence studies show that the donor-acceptor recombination rate, enhanced by 25% for Ag_0.95Al_0.05I film relative to that of undoped AgI, is due to the tight binding of Al to surface defect sites.     

Research on Zr50Al15−xNi10Cu25Yx amorphous alloys prepared by mechanical alloying with commercial pure element powders

Amorphous Zr₅₀Al_15−xNi₁₀Cu₂₅Y_x alloy powders were fabricated by mechanical alloying at low vacuum with commercial pure element powders. The effects on glass forming ability of Al partial substituted by Y in Zr₅₀Al₁₅Ni₁₀Cu₂₅ and thermal stability of Si₃N₄ powders addition were investigated. The as-milled powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimeter. The results show that partial substitution of Al can improve the glass forming ability of Zr₅₀Al₁₅Ni₁₀Cu₂₅ alloy. Minor Si₃N₄ additions raise the crystallization activation energy of the amorphous phase and thus improve its thermal stability.     

Magnetocaloric and magnetoresistance properties in Co-based (Co0.402Fe0.201Ni0.067B0.227Si0.053Nb0.05)100−xCux (x=0–1) glassy alloys

The magnetocaloric and magnetoresistance properties of amorphous Co-based (Co_0.402Fe_0.201Ni_0.067B_0.227Si_0.053Nb_0.05)_100?xCu_x (x = 0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) ribbons were investigated. Cu additions changed the crystallisation temperature (T_x) and the Curie temperature (T_C). The saturation magnetisation (M_s) and coercivity (H_c) for alloys were in the range of 65.51–38.49 emu/g and 1.99–6.84 A/m, respectively. Under an applied magnetic field change of 2.2 T, the (?ΔS_M)^max for (Co_0.402Fe_0.201Ni_0.067B_0.227Si_0.053Nb_0.05)_100?xCu_x with x = 0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 are 0.77, 0.71, 0.89 and 0.67 Jkg^?1 K^?1, respectively. The values of refrigeration capacity (RC) for the as-spun glassy alloys are comparable with those of previously studied Fe-based metallic glasses such as Fe₈₀B₁₀Zr₉Cu₁, (Fe_0.76B_0.24)₉₆Nb₄ and Fe₈₂Ni₂Zr₆B₁₀. In addition, the maximum magnetoresistance (MR) values for (Co_0.402Fe_0.201Ni_0.067B_0.227Si_0.053Nb_0.05)_100?xCu_x with x = 0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 are found to be 110, 38, 23 and 1% around the Curie temperatures under an applied magnetic field change of 1 T, respectively. With good RC, negligible hysteresis due to very low coercivity values and large magnetoresistance, these Co-based amorphous alloys can be used as the high temperature magnetic refrigerants and multifunctional applications working in the temperature range of 450–600 K.     

Synthesis and tribological properties of AA5052-base insitu composites

Abstract

It is important to optimize the properties of a material for a particular application, hence, to find the suitable material for tribological applications, the wear and friction behaviour of AA5052 in situ composites with different kind of reinforcements have been investigated. For present study, three in situ formed composites have been produced with different reinforcements namely Al₃Zr, ZrB₂ and combination of both (Al₃Zr + ZrB₂) by direct melt reaction (DMR) technique. The as-cast composites and base alloy have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, electron microscopy, tensile testing, hardness and dry sliding wear and friction tests. XRD results indicate the successful formation of second phase reinforcement particles in all composites. Wear test results indicate that the cumulative volume loss increases with an increase in sliding distance while coefficient of friction shows a fluctuating tendency, whereas with increasing applied load, wear rate shows an increasing trend while coefficient of friction shows decreasing trend. The variation of wear rate with composites indicates that the composite with multiple reinforcement (Al₃Zr + ZrB₂) has lowest wear rate among all as-cast composites and base alloy, while coefficient of friction is higher. The responsible mechanisms concerned with wear and friction results have been discussed in detail with the help of the observation on worn surface analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and 3D-profilometer. All tribological results have been correlated with the microstructural properties, strength parameters and bulk hardness of the composites.     

Optical properties of polyvinyl alcohol doped (Se80Te20)100–xAgx (0 ≤ x ≤ 4) composites

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) doped (Se₈₀Te₂₀)_100–xAg_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 4) thin films were prepared by the spin-coating technique on a quartz substrate. The optical parameters of PVA-doped (Se₈₀Te₂₀)_100–xAg_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 4) composites at the same chalcogen concentration (S₀ = 0.1 mg ml^?1) and PVA/(Se₈₀Te₂₀)₉₆Ag₄ composites at three different chalcogen concentrations viz. S₁ = 0.3 mg ml^?1, S₂ = 0.6 mg ml^?1 and S₃ = 1 mg ml^?1 have been studied. The semi-crystalline nature of the as-deposited thin filmsisdetermined by X-ray diffraction. The transmission and reflection spectra of PVA-doped Se–Te–Ag thin films were obtained in a 350–650 nm spectral region. The optical-band gap has been calculated from the transmission and reflection data. The refractive index has been calculated by the measured reflection data. It has been found that the optical-band gap increases, but the refractive index, extinction coefficient, and the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant decrease, with increase in Agcontent in PVA-doped (Se₈₀Te₂₀)_100–xAg_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 4) thin films. Such type of behavior is explained on the basis of decrease in density of the defect states. However, the optical-band gap has been found to be decreased and all other optical parameters show increase in their values with increase in concentration of (Se₈₀Te₂₀)₉₆Ag₄ glass in PVA-doped composites. The results have been explained on the basis of cluster-size formation at the time of dissolution. This study shows that the optical properties of new composites are affected by the change in silver and chalcogen concentration.     

The characterisation of atomic structure and glass-forming ability of the Zr–Cu–Co metallic glasses studied by molecular dynamics simulations

In the present work, the glass formation process and structural properties of Zr₅₀Cu_50-xCo_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 50) bulk metallic glasses were investigated by a molecular dynamics simulation with the many body tight-binding potentials. The evolution of structure and glass formation process with temperature were discussed using the coordination number, the radial distribution functions, the volume–temperature curve, icosahedral short-range order, glass transition temperature, Voronoi analysis, Honeycutt–Andersen pair analysis technique and the distribution of bond–angles. Results indicate that adding Co causes similar responses on the nature of the Zr₅₀Cu_50-xCo_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 50) alloys except for higher glass transition temperature and ideal icosahedral type ordered local atomic environment. Also, the differences of the atomic radii play the key role in influencing the atomic structure of these alloys. Both Cu and Co atoms play a significant role in deciding the chemical and topological short-range orders of the Zr₅₀Cu_50-xCo_x ternary liquids and amorphous alloys. The glass-forming ability of these alloys is supported by the experimental observations reported in the literature up to now.     

Enhancing the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric figure of merit of the p-type delafossite CuAlO2 by Ag2O addition

(CuAlO₂)_1-x(Ag₂O)_x specimens with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.06 were prepared through the sintering of mixtures of CuO, Al₂O₃ and Ag₂O powders at 1373 K. Hall effect, Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity measurements were subsequently employed to assess the electrical transport properties. The electrical conductivity of the as-sintered samples was found to increase with Ag₂O addition as a result of increases in the carrier density. Over the temperature range of 323–623 K, the transport properties can be attributed to thermally activated transitions from the acceptor state to the valence band. In contrast, the variable range hopping theory is applicable over the temperature range of 623–873 K. Ag₂O addition evidently reduces the defect binding energy in the electronic structure of the CuAlO₂. The addition of this compound also obstructs the formation of both a spinel phase and CuO, such that the oxygen off-stoichiometry value and the carrier density are increased with increasing Ag₂O levels. The presence of Ag metal has the main effect on thermal conductivity below 400 K, while above 400 K increases in the phonon concentration affect the conductivity. The highest value obtained for the figure of merit was 0.0044 at 573 K, from a sample containing 0.2 at.% Ag₂O.     

Design of high T g Zr-based metallic glasses using atomistic simulation and experiment

In this paper, we systematically investigate local atomic structures of Zr_100?x Al _x (0???x???72) alloys using molecular dynamics simulations. Radial distribution functions of Zr-Al configurations at 300 K indicate that Zr-Al metallic glasses form only when the Al atomic concentration is larger than 32%. Voronoi polyhedral analysis shows that Zr₄₀Al₆₀ has the highest fraction of ?0,0,12,0? icosahedra around Al atoms, which are characteristic of amorphous microstructures. Variations of thermal expansion coefficient and heat capacity of Zr_100?x Al _x (40???x???72) metallic glasses as a function of temperature from 1100 to 800?K reveal that Zr₄₀Al₆₀ has the highest transition temperature of 1008?K. To confirm the simulation results, Zr-Al metallic glasses were fabricated using co-sputtering deposition; differential scanning calorimetry testing suggests the highest crystallisation-onset temperature of above 920?K is within Zr_100?x Al _x where 43?<?x?<?61. The experimental finding is in a good agreement with the simulation predictions.     

Dual self-organised shear banding behaviours and enhanced ductility in phase separating Zr-based bulk metallic glasses

The multiplication and interaction of self-organised shear bands often transform to a stick-slip behaviour of a major shear band along the primary shear plane, and ultimately the major shear band becomes runaway and terminates the plasticity of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). Here, we examined the deformation behaviours of the nanoscale phase-separating Zr_65–xCu₂₅Al₁₀Fe_x (x = 5 and 7.5 at.%) BMGs. The formation of multi-step phase separation, being mainly governed by nucleation and growth, results in the microstructural inhomogeneity on a wide range of length-scales and leads to obviously macroscopic and repeatable ductility. The good deformability can be attributed to two mechanisms for stabilizing shear banding process, i.e. the mutual interaction of multiple shear bands away from the major shear band and the delaying slip-to-failure of dense fine shear bands around the major shear band, both of which show a self-organised criticality yet with different power-law exponents. The two mechanisms could come into effect in the intermediate (stable) and later plastic deformation regime, respectively. Our findings provide a possibility to enhance the shear banding stability over the whole plastic deformation through a proper design of microstructure heterogeneities.     

Dry sliding wear characteristics of in situ synthesized Al-TiC composites

Abstract

Aluminum-based composites containing 0.06, 0.09, 0.12 fractions of in situ-synthesized TiC (Titanium carbide) particles have been prepared through in-melt reaction from Ai–SiC–Ti system following a simple and cost-effective stir-casting route. The TiC forms by the reaction of Ti with carbon which is released by SiC at temperatures greater than 1073 K. However, some amount of titanium aluminide (Al₃Ti) is also formed. The formation of TiC has been confirmed through X-ray diffraction studies of the composite. The hardness and tensile strength have been found to increase with increasing amount of TiC. The friction and wear characteristics of the composites have been determined by carrying out dry sliding tests on pin-on-disc machine at different loads of 9.8 N, 19.6 N, 29.4 N, 39.2 N at a constant sliding speed of the 1 m/s speed. The wear rate i.e. volume loss per unit sliding distance has been found to increase linearly with increasing load following Archard’s law. However, both the wear rate and friction coefficient have been observed to decrease with increasing amount of TiC in the composite. This has been attributed to (i) a relatively higher hardness of composites containing relatively higher amount of TiC resulting in a relatively lower real area of contact and (ii) the formation of a well-compacted mechanically mixed layer of compacted wear debris on the worn surface which might have inhibited metal–metal contact and resulted in a lower wear rate as well as friction coefficient.     

Laser-induced voltage (LIV) enhancement of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 films with Ag addition

La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃:Ag _x (LSMO:Ag _x , x=0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30) films were grown on vicinal cut LaAlO₃ (LAO) substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique (PLD). It is found that laser-induced voltage (LIV) of LSMO:Ag _x films is improved and enhanced by Ag addition. With x increasing, figure of merit (F _m ) and anisotropic Seebeck coefficient (ΔS) of LSMO:Ag _x (x=0.08) films reach the maximum values of 28.25 mV/ns and 0.38 μV/K, respectively. The results suggest that the LIV enhancement of LSMO:Ag _x films is due to the anisotropy of the Seebeck tensor, which is produced by long range cooperative Jahn–Teller distortions with Ag addition.     

Effect of Fe on the glass-forming ability,structure and devitrification behavior of Zr–Cu–Al bulk glass-forming alloys

We report on the glass-forming ability and devitrification behavior of Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀, Zr₆₀Cu₂₅Al₁₀Fe₅ and Zr_62.5Cu_22.5Al₁₀Fe₅ bulk glass-forming alloys on heating. The effect of Fe addition on the structure of Zr–Al–Cu alloys is also discussed. Crystallization kinetics and structural changes in the glassy alloys were studied using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning and isothermal calorimetry methods. The results indicate that good glass-formers, such as Zr_62.5Cu_22.5Al₁₀Fe₅, are located somewhat beyond the equilibrium eutectic point. Possible phase separation in the supercooled liquid on heating and electron beam-induced in situ crystallization are observed and discussed.