ADVANCED MATERIALS IN ENGINEERING (ESTEGHLAL)
Year:2015 | Volume:34 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

In this study, MoSi2-TiB2 nano composites with 10 and 20 wt.% of TiB2 were synthesized by mechanical alloying through two different methods. In the first method, elemental powders of molybdenum, silicon, titanium and boron were milled together for 60 hours. In the second method, MoSi2 was made by 30-hours milling of Mo and Si. Then, commercial TiB2 was added to the matrix and milling was continued for another 30 hours. Heat treatment was carried out on the resultant specimens at 1000˚C for 60 min. The effect of mechanical alloying on grain size and lattice strain was investigated by Williamson-Hall method using XRD patterns. The mechanical properties of the samples were determined by hardness test. It was found that TiB2 added to MoSi2 increased hardness considerably. Agglomeration process was carried out on the powders to be used in thermal spray process. The morphology and microstructure of the milled powders before and after agglomeration process were studied by SEM. The sphericity and particle size distribution of agglomerated particles were evaluated using Clemex software. The results showed that the nano composite powder produced by the first method had a higher quality for thermal spray process due to its higher hardness compared to the second one. It also had adequate particles sphericity.

Based on molecular dynamics simulation results, a model was developed for determining elastic properties of aluminum nano composites reinforced with silicon carbide particles. Also, two models for prediction of density and price of Nano composites were suggested. Then, optimal volume fraction of reinforcement was obtained by genetic algorithm method for the least density and price, and the highest elastic properties. Based on optimization results, the optimum volume fraction of reinforcement was obtained equal to 0.44. For this optimum volume fraction, optimum Young’s modulus, shear modulus, the price and the density of the nano composite were obtained 165.89 GPa, 111.37 GPa, 8.75 $/lb and 2.92 gr/cm3, respectively.

The aim of this investigation was to produce Ti47Al48Mn5 intermetallic compounds with different microstructures in order to study their oxidation behavior. The reason for selecting manganese as an alloying element was to enhance the toughness of the compound. Ti47Al48Mn5 alloys were obtained through mechanical alloying, cold pressing and heat treatment. XRD results showed that milling of the elemental powder mixture for 30 hours causes the formation of Al and Mn in Ti solid solution, while by increasing milling time up to 50 hours, amorphization of powder mixture occurs. To obtain duplex and fully lamellar microstructures, the mechanically alloyed powders were cold pressed and then heat treated at 1100 °C and 1400 °C in argon atmosphere for 50 hours, respectively. The results of the oxidation test at 1000 °C revealed that the different microstructures of Ti47Al48Mn5 alloy investigated in this study have little effect on the oxidation resistance, and similar oxidation mechanisms existed for the two microstructures.

To evaluate the effect of inoculant addition on functionally graded microstructure of centrifugally cast Al-Mg2Si composites, two cylinders of Al-13.8 wt.% Mg2Si with and without the addition of 1 wt.% Al-5Ti-B inoculant were cast in a vertical centrifugal casting machine. The chemical composition, microstructures and microstructural phases of the different radial sections of the cast cylinders were studied using induction coupled plasma (ICP) method, optical/scanning electron microscopes, and X-ray diffractometry, respectively. The results showed that in the inoculant content cylinder, owing to the prevailing thermal regime as well as the specific mode of eutectic solidification in this composite, the titanium and boron compounds were segregated towards the middle layer of the cylinder and caused the formation of primary Mg2Si particles and non-eutectic Al (a) in this layer. In addition, due to the effect of centrifugal force during solidification, a higher volume fraction of the light primary Mg2Si particles, according to Stocks law, was segregated towards the inner layer of the cast cylinders.

In this investigation, the effect of heat treatment on magnetic properties of glass and nano-structured cobalt-ferrite glass-ceramic was studied. The glass was synthesized in the system of Na2O-Fe2O3-CoO-B2O3-SiO2. Based on DTA results, heat treatment was done at different times and temperatures. X-ray diffraction pattern of glass-ceramic showed the crystallization of CoFe2O4 and some nonmagnetic phases. The highest magnetization of 11.8 emu/g was obtained for the sample heat-treated for 2 hr at 670oC in graphite bed. Average crystallite size of CoFe2O4 in this sample was 50 nm. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles in the glass matrix.

In the present study, the copper anode slime was leached in chloride media. Then, pregnant leach solution (PLS) was purified using solvent extraction method and Octanol-kerosene solution. HAuCl4.2L was determined as the extracted macromolecule, and separation of impurities, such as copper, iron and selenium was done in the presence of gold. McCabe-Thiele diagram of Au–HCl (3 M)– Octanol (40% n/n) in O/A=3/4 showed that Au concentration in aqueous phase decreased from the initial value of 200 to 7 mg/L, after 5 stages. Ammonia solution was proposed as the stripper and McCabe-Thiele diagram was presented to obtain the number of gold stripping steps by ammonia solution.

Certain amount of retained austenite can increase ductility of steels because of the TRIP phenomenon during plastic deformation. One method for achieving this is partitioning of carbon into austenite to stabilize it at room temperature. The quenching and partitioning (Q&P) heat treatment leads to a microstructure consisting of marten site and stabilized retained austenite between marten site plates, which provides a better combination of strength and ductility. In this study, the effect of parameters of Q&P process (quenching temperature, partitioning temperature and partitioning time) on the microstructure and retained austenite volume fraction of a low alloy medium carbon steel was investigated. The results showed that the high increase in partitioning time causes the disappearance of marten site blades and reduction of austenite volume fraction. However, increasing of partitioning temperature made the retained austenite films become thicker and its volume fraction increase. On the other hand, by increasing the quenching temperature, carbon content of retained austenite increased sharply.

This paper reports on the mechanical properties of the dissimilar joints between AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel and St 37 low carbon steel achieved using friction stir welding technique. The welding was carried out by means of rotational speed of 800 rpm and linear speeds of 50,100,150 mm/min. EDS and XRD techniques were employed in order to determine possible phase transformations. Tensile test, shear punch test and micro hardness measurements were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the joints. The results of phase investigations showed that no carbide and brittle phase were detected at the joint boundary. Also, tensile test results demonstrated that failure occurred in the St 37 base metal. According to the shear punch test, the highest ultimate shear strength and yield shear strength was achieved for the sample welded at rotational speed of 800 rpm and linear speed of 150 mm/min, while this sample showed the least elongation. In addition, the highest micro hardness was measured in the stir zone of austenitic stainless steel sample welded in the above mentioned welding condition, which can be attributed to the decrease in grain size caused by recrystallization process.

In this study, the effect of mechanical alloying on the microstructure and phase constituents of Mg-6Al-1Zn-1Si system was investigated. To understand the thermal behavior, isothermal annealing was performed at three different temperatures of 350, 400 and 450 °C for 1h. The results showed the grain size initially decreases with increasing the milling time up to 35h and then slightly increases. In contrast, the lattice strain increases sharply with increasing the milling time up to 35h and then decreases. Second-phase intermetallic particle Mg2Si was produced during annealing and the amount of this phase was increased with increasing annealing temperature. The mechanical alloying process decreased the formation temperature of Mg2Si.

In the last decade, a significant progress has been made in the wearable medical devices. Scientists are extensively involved in the design of the flexible instruments equipped with garments to fulfill the daily needs and requirements. The fulfillment of this demand particularly needs a conductive fabric substrate with a high level of homogeneity, and the lowest barrier against electrical current. In this study, textile based ECG electrode was prepared by screen printing of activator followed by electro less plating of copper particles. The data acquisition showed the best outcome with pH=8.5 and the plating temperature of 70 ˚C. The electrical resistance showed a range around 0.08 W/sq, which sounds quite proper for ECG signal acquisition since the potential difference according to heart activity on skin surface is in milivolt range. We tested the cardiac signal with a reference electrode of Electroshock monitoring system and the results revealed a very high quality receiving signal. Employing of these types of sensors in textile surface due to their flexibility can bring the users more freedom of action.