Improvement of the corrosion behavior of low carbon steel by laser surface alloying

In the present study, an integrated layer of iron aluminides of FeAl and Fe₃Al was formed on the surface of a low carbon steel sheet by a two-step process. The first step was hot dipping of the steel in a molten aluminum pool and secondly laser surface processing using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The corrosion resistance of the coated specimens was evaluated by activation polarization and Tafel methods. The results show that laser processing of the aluminized steel leads to a considerable increase in its corrosion resistance compared to both uncoated and merely aluminized materials.     

The effect of etching time on the CdZnTe surface

The surface quality of CdZnTe plays an important role in the performance of sensors based on this material. In this paper the effect of chemical etching on Cd_0.9Zn_0.1Te sensor performance was examined. Sample surfaces were treated with the same concentration 2% Br-MeOH for different etching times (30 s, 2, 4, 6, 8 min). The surfaces were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and I-V Measurement. These results demonstrate that the best surface quality can be obtained by chemical etching for 30 s. Under these experimental conditions, the surface composition Te/Cd + Zn approaches 1, the roughness is lower than 3 nm, and the leakage current shows a value lower than 10 nA.     

The effect of nanostructured surface layer on the fatigue behaviors of a carbon steel

A nanostructured surface layer was formed on a carbon steel by means of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). The microstructure of the surface layer of the SMATed sample was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microhardness and residual stress distribution along the depth from the SMATed surface layer were measured at the same time. Fatigue behaviors of the carbon steel subjected to the SMAT process were investigated. A nanostructured layer with average grains size of ∼12.7 nm was formed, of which microhardness is more than twice as high as that in matrix and residual compressive stress can reach about −400 MPa with maximum depth of ∼600 μm. The fatigue strength of as-received sample is 267 MPa and that of SMATed sample is 302 MPa based on fatigue life 5 × 10⁶ cycles. The SMAT process has improved the fatigue strength by as much as 13.1% for the carbon steel. It is shown that the SMAT is an effective method to render the material with the features, such as a nanostructured and work-hardened surface layer as well as compressive residual stresses, which can pronouncedly improve the fatigue strength of the carbon steel.     

Macro and microsurface morphology reconstructions during laser-induced etching of silicon

Surface morphologies of the laser-etched silicon were studied as a function of the laser power densities. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results show that different kind of microstructures develop. Pores like structures are formed at low laser power density and pillar like structures are obtained at higher laser power density. It is the etching rate, which is responsible for the surface morphology reconstructions. Etching rate was found to be a function of the laser power density. Atomic force microscope (AFM) results reveal that macro and microsurface morphology reconstructions take place simultaneously as a result of increasing etching rate. Macrosurface morphology reconstruction takes place on the silicon wafer surface and the microsurface morphology reconstruction takes place inside the pore wall.     

Coating stainless steel with diamond-like carbon using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition system,and its effects on fusion devices

Internal mirrors are used widely for plasma diagnostics in fusion devices. Therefore, keeping them in good optical condition is essential. The results of this experiment show that coating stainless steel 316l (S.S.316l) mirrors with diamond-like carbon (DLC) reduces the erosion rate and contamination of plasma by evaporation and sputtering and also increases the optical lifetime of these mirrors. For this purpose, firstly two similar S.S.316l samples were chosen. One of these samples was coated with DLC by a Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition device, while the other was kept intact as a reference for investigating the effect of DLC coating. Then, in order to study the coating effects, these samples were exposed to 200 shots of the hydrogen plasma, with a total duration of 7 s in tokamak. Before and after the exposure, samples were analyzed by the atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, and Spectrophotometer. It was found that the uncoated sample was damaged severely and its reflection dropped significantly, and the sample showed some cracks and some melting lines, while no significant change was observed on the surface characteristic of coated sample. Moreover, the weight loss of the uncoated was more in comparison to the coated, sample. Therefore, the results of this experiment showed that coating of S.S.316l by DLC is a useful method to strengthen this material against plasma erosion, and with further optimization, it could possibly be used in preparing plasma diagnostics mirrors.     

SEM/EDS investigation of one-step flame sprayed and fused Ni-based self-fluxing alloy coatings on steel substrates

Abstract

This study presents the results of light optical and scanning electron microscopy as well as energy dispersive spectroscopy investigation of the Ni-based self-fluxing alloys (NiCrBSi, NiCrWBSi and NiCrBSi + WC) deposited on steel substrates (heat treated carbon steel C45, heat treated low-alloyed steel 42CrMo4 and austenitic stainless steel X6CrNiMo18-10-2) by one-step flame spraying and fusing process. The microstructure of coatings and coating/substrate interface but also the effects of deposition technology on the heat-treated steel substrates which have frequently been used in practice were investigated. The influence of the sample size on the microstructure was also discussed. A proof is given of the change in the structure of coating, coating/substrate interface and substrate due to high fusing temperature, depending on type of steel substrate (and relating thermal properties), coating thickness but also on dimensions of the sample.     

Influence of annealing temperature on the nanostructure and corrosivity of Ti/stainless steel substrates

Titanium films of 80 nm thickness were deposited on stainless steel type 304, and they were post-annealed under flow of oxygen at different temperatures. The prepared samples were corrosion tested in 1.0 M H₂SO₄ solution using potentiodynamic and galvanometric polarization technique. The variation of corrosion resistance of these samples showed that the optimum annealing temperature is 473 K. The reduction of corrosion resistance of the sample with increasing the temperature above 473 K is attributed to the phenomena which are confirmed by AFM results: (a) increase of surface roughness, and (b) formation of larger grains with large grooves between them on the film surface. Hence larger effective surfaces for chemical reactions are provided. The films’ crystallographic and morphological structures were analysed using XRD and AFM, respectively before corrosion test and SEM after corrosion test. It is observed that the crystallographic structure of the film goes through a sudden change at 943 K annealing temperature and three phases of titanium oxide (i.e., rutile, anatase and brookite) are formed.     

Crystallographic study of grain refinement in low and medium carbon steels

In order to clarify and articulate the long-standing problems associated with the role of various compounds in grain refinement of as-cast steels, a comprehensive crystallographic study on grain refiners in a number of low carbon steels has been conducted using the edge-to-edge matching (E2EM) model, which has been successfully applied to explain and predict effective grain refiners in light metals. Five commonly investigated compounds, namely NbO, CeS, TiN, Ce₂O₃ and TiC, in steels were examined. According to the extent of crystallographic matching, the predicted grain refining potency of these five grain refiners is ranked in the order of NbO > CeS > TiN > Ce₂O₃ > TiC, which is consistent with previously reported experimental results. Four different orientation relationships between δ-ferrite and these grain refiners were predicted. One of them has been verified by previously published experimental data. The similarity and the advantages of the E2EM model over conventional Bramfitt’s model were also discussed.     

低温下不锈钢导热系数的测量

在低温条件下利用稳态纵向热流法测量了制造低温阀门常用的316L不锈钢和17-4PH不锈钢的导热系数,通过实验表明两者的导热系数与316不锈钢的导热系数十分接近。     

The stoichiometry and kinetics of carbon combustion at low temperature: A surface complex approach

The stoichiometry and rate of carbon combustion at low temperature (673 K) were investigated. Oxidation and TPD experimental data provide quantification of gaseous products and stable surface complexes over a broad range of conversion. Our analysis distinguishes between surface complexes forming CO and CO₂ and has assumed a certain fraction of each complex type decomposes instantaneously upon formation, leaving the remainder on the surface as stable complexes, C(O) and C(O₂). This analysis suggests that a maximum of 25% of CO-complexes and 89% of CO₂-complexes are unstable upon formation. At low conversion, unstable complex formation is the dominant pathway for the CO product. As conversion increases, decomposition of stable CO-complexes eventually becomes the main source of CO. Formation of unstable CO₂-complexes is the dominant pathway for the CO₂ product at all times. The combustion rate is initially high due to a high availability of vacant active sites, decreases sharply as these sites are filled with stable complexes, and gradually increases as the stable complexes promote CO₂-complex formation, in turn, driving their decomposition. The dynamics of formation and decomposition of C(O) and C(O₂) dictates their ratio on the carbon surface at any moment, which may be measured by TPD. This work may help in developing new kinetic models of carbon combustion which can predict the stoichiometry as well as the rate.     

Effect of surface ZnO coatings on oxidation and thermal stability of zinc films

The effect of thin ZnO coatings grown on Zn films on further oxidation and thermal stability of Zn films deposited on Mo(110) substrate was in situ investigated under ultrahigh vacuum by photoelectron spectrometries and low-energy electron diffraction. The results indicated that ZnO layers formed by oxidizing Zn films had at least a thickness of 3–5 monolayers. Further oxidation of Zn films was confined by as-formed ZnO coatings due to a surface passivation. It was of advantage to explain the difficulty in growing low oxygen-deficient ZnO films. The surface ZnO coatings strongly enhanced the thermal stability of Zn films, which was useful for understanding the underlying application of Zn/ZnO materials, such as Zn/ZnO nanocables with Zn core and ZnO shell.     

Effects of rare earth and tantalum on graphite-like carbon coatings

The graphite-like carbon (GLC) coating with low friction and good wear resistance is appreciable to make further improvement. Ce, Y and Ta are doped into GLC by using mosaic in the target of magnetron sputtering process. The result shows that yttrium composed in chromium interlayer can increase the bonding strength and refine the microstructure of the GLC coating. For the surface layer of GLC, incorporation of Ta improves wear resistance and deposition rate, in the mean time the friction coefficient is decreased. As the modifications of interlayer and top layer are composed together to form complex GLC coating, the specific wear rate is reduced and the hardness, bonding strength and anti corrosion behavior are improved.     

The influence of surface effect on vibration behaviors of carbon nanotubes under initial stress

An analytical method is presented to solve the influence of surface effect on non-coaxial resonance of multi-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in matrix utilizing laminated structures model. Due to coupled van der Waals forces between adjacent tubes and surface effect exerted carbon nanotubes, the resonance frequencies and amplitude ratios of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under initial stresses show that the resonant characteristics of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes become complex and the numbers of vibrational modes do not keep increase under identical conditions after considering surface effects. The result obtained can be used as a beneficial reference for investigating the electronic and physical behaviors of carbon nanotubes.     

Use of modified chemical route for ZnSe nanocrystalline thin films growth: Study on surface morphology and physical properties

The zinc selenide thin films have been deposited using modified chemical bath deposition (M-CBD) method. Zinc acetate and sodium selenosulphate were used as Zn²⁺ and Se²⁻ ion sources, respectively. The preparative parameters such as concentration, pH, number of deposition cycles have been optimized in order to deposit ZnSe thin films. The as-deposited ZnSe thin films are specularly reflective and faint yellowish in color. The as-deposited ZnSe films are annealed in an air atmosphere at 473 K for 2 h. The films are characterized using structural, morphological, compositional, optical and electrical properties.     

Effect of ausforming temperature and strain on the bainitic transformation kinetics of a low carbon boron steel

The effect of ausforming temperature and strain on the bainitic transformation kinetics was investigated in a low carbon boron steel. A new mechanism, which is based on the competition between the increase in nucleation rate and the decrease in average volume of bainite sheaf after deformation, is proposed. The increase in nucleation rate is due to the decrease in boron concentration at the grain boundaries after small deformation and the formation of sub-grain boundaries at the grain interior after large deformation. The decrease in average volume of bainite sheaf is ascribed to the frequent impingement of bainite sub-units after deformation. The increase in nucleation rate after deformation results in the decrease in incubation time, which is confirmed from the experiment. The increase in nucleation rate overcomes the decrease in average volume of bainite sheaf, resulting in the increase in transformation velocity and volume fraction after small deformation. On the contrary, the decrease in the average volume of bainite sheaf overcomes the increase in nucleation rate after large deformation, leading to the decrease in transformation velocity and volume fraction of bainite.     

The effect of the deposition parameters on size, distribution and antimicrobial properties of photoinduced silver nanoparticles on titania coatings

Controlled photodeposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on titania coatings using two different sources of UV light is described. Titania (anatase) thin films were prepared by the sol-gel dip-coating method on silicon wafers. AgNPs were grown on the titania surface as a result of UV illumination of titania films immersed in aqueous solutions of silver nitrate. UV xenon lamp or excimer laser, both operating at the wavelength 351 ± 5 nm, was used as illumination sources. The AFM topography of AgNP/TiO₂ nanocomposites revealed that silver nanoparticles could be synthesized by both sources of illumination, however the photocatalysis carried out by UV light from xenon lamp illumination leads to larger AgNP than those synthesized using the laser beam. It was found that the increasing concentration of silver ions in the initial solution increases the number of Ag nanoparticles on the titania surface, while longer time of irradiation results the growth of larger size nanoparticles. Antibacterial tests performed on TiO₂ covered by Ag nanoparticles revealed that increasing density of nanoparticles enhances the inhibition of bacterial growth. It was also found that antibacterial activity drops by only 10-15% after 6 cycles compared to the initial use.     

Synthesis and surface characterization of alumina-silica-zirconia nanocomposite ceramic fibres on aluminium at room temperature

Alumina-silica-zirconia nanocomposite (ASZNC) ceramic fibres were synthesized by conventional anodization route. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force microscopy (AFM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDAX) were used to characterize the morphology and crystalloid structure of ASZNC fibres. Current density (DC) is one of the important parameters to get the alumina-silica-zirconia nanocomposite (ASZNC) ceramic fibres by this route. Annealing of the films exhibited a drastic change in the properties due to improved crystallinity. The root mean square roughness of the sample observed from atomic force microscopic analysis is about 71.5 nm which is comparable to the average grain size of the coatings which is about 72 nm obtained from X-Ray diffraction. The results indicate that, the ASZNC fibres are arranged well in the nanostructure. The thickness of the coating increased with the anodizing time, but the coatings turned rougher and more porous. At the initial stage the growth of ceramic coating increases inwards to the metal substrate and outwards to the coating surface simultaneously. Subsequently, it mainly grows towards the metal substrate and the density of the ceramic coating increases gradually, which results in the decrease of the total thickness as anodizing time increases. This new approach of preparing ASZNC ceramic fibres may be important in applications ranging from gas sensors to various engineering materials.     

热丝加热电流对CH薄膜沉积速率和表面形貌的影响

 热丝辅助裂解法是结合气相沉积制备聚对二甲苯薄膜和热丝化学气相沉积而形成的一种制-CH薄膜的新方法。热丝辅助裂解法的最大特点就是在保持低衬底温度情况下可以获得高沉积速率，而热丝加热电流对薄膜沉积速率和薄膜表面形貌具有重要影响。研究表明，热丝加热电流越大，薄膜沉积速率越高，在加热电流9A时，薄膜沉积速率可达0.002mm/min，同时薄膜表面粗糙度随之增加，薄膜表面也开始出现其它元素污染，因此，一般热丝加热电流选择为7A附近。     

The effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube pretreatments on the electrodeposition of Ni-MWCNTs coatings

Two different chemical treatments were performed on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), namely functionalization, and shortening-functionalization processes. Then, nickel-MWCNTs coatings were co-electrodeposited. The results showed that the chemically shortened nanotubes were behaved as inert particles, and embedded into the nickel matrix, whilst the long functionalized nanotubes showed metallic behavior and during electrodeposition, they were incorporated into the nickel matrix. In similar plating condition, the amount of co-deposited shortened nanotubes was more than elongated ones. Furthermore, it was revealed that the pretreatment of nanotubes significantly affected the microstructure, surface morphology, hardness and corrosion resistance of deposited coatings.     

Preparation and microstructure characteristics of low-temperature bainite in surface layer of low carbon gear steel

A kind of technology was proposed for the development of low-temperature bainitic microstructure in the surface layer of low-carbon gear steel 20CrMnMo, which is based on carburization and succedent low-temperature austempering. The carbon content in the surface carburization layer increases to 0.81 wt.%, making the martensite starting point depressed. Low-temperature bainite formed in the carburization layer and lath martensite with low carbon content in the center by austempering at a low temperature slightly higher than the martensite starting point of the surface layer. Aluminum is added as alloying elements with the purpose of enhancing the driving force of bainitic transformation and retarding the precipitation of cementite during austempering. With the excellent toughness of low-temperature bainite, this low-temperature austempering technology could be a potential substitute of the traditional quenching and tempering heat treatment in the manufacture of gear.