Influence of CeO2 addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) composite prepared by spark plasma sintering

In this study, zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) samples with different amounts of CeO₂ were prepared by the spark plasma sintering method. The phase composition and microstructure of the samples were examined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The addition of CeO₂ results in grain refinement and density increase; moreover, CeO₂ stabilises the high-temperature metastable phase. As the amount of CeO₂ reaches 7 wt%, a new CeAl₁₁O₁₈ phase appears. The Vickers hardness, modulus, and fracture toughness of the samples depend to a large extent on the grain size, relative density, and existence of the second phase. Among the composites, that with 5 wt% CeO₂ shows the best performance with the highest values of relative density, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness: 96.51%, 1688 HV, and 9.91 MPa.√m, respectively.     

表面微结构自抛光防污涂层的制备与性能研究

为了研究表面微结构与自抛光的协同防污效果，将具有吸水溶胀能力的微球加入到自抛光树脂中，通过交联反应制备了表面微结构自抛光防污涂层，考察了涂层浸水过程中表面微结构形貌、溶胀、自抛光性能和抑制小球藻附着性能。研究结果表明：涂层自抛光过程中，微结构形貌的变化随微球含量的增加而更加明显；涂层溶胀率与微球的含量正相关，自抛光率与可水解单体含量正相关，但可水解单体含量过大时，涂层溶胀与自抛光成相互制约关系；小球藻附着率随微球含量的增加而增大，随可水解单体含量的增加而下降，当微球分散液质量分数为 10%、可水解单体质量分数为 40%时，涂层抑制小球藻附着的效果最佳。     

Advantages and disadvantages of graphite addition on the characteristics of hot-pressed ZrB2–SiC composites

ZrB₂–SiC–graphite composites with 0–35 vol% graphite flakes were densified via hot-pressing route at the temperature of 1800 °C under the uniaxial pressure of 40 MPa for 1 h. Consolidation, mechanical properties, and microstructure of hot-pressed composites were investigated by variation of graphite content. By the addition of graphite, the relative density of composites increased, and at this hot pressing condition, fully densified composites were fabricated. The highest flexural strength of 366 MPa was measured for composite containing 7.5 vol% graphite, while the maximum Vickers hardness resulted in 2.5 vol% graphite doped one, and its value was equal to 20.8 GPa. Phase analysis of hot-pressed samples revealed the formation of the Zr₃C₂ and B₄C phases besides the main existing ZrB₂, SiC, and graphite phases. The newly carbide phases formed at the surface of ZrB₂ grains. The addition of graphite into the ZrB₂–SiC composites improved the sintering process and caused a fine-grained microstructure.     

Influence of Y2O3 on the microstructure and tribological properties of Ti-based wear-resistant laser-clad layers on TC4 alloy

Multi-track Ti-based wear-resistant composite coatings were fabricated on TC4 alloy surfaces using laser-clad TC4 + Ni45 + Co–WC mixed powders with different Y₂O₃ contents (0, 1, and 3 wt%). The microstructure, microhardness, and tribological properties of the coatings were characterised using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, electron probe X-ray micro analyser, microhardness tester, and friction and wear testing apparatus. The results showed that the number of cracks on the coating surfaces gradually decreased with the addition of Y₂O₃ and that residual Co–WC powders existed in the coating subsurfaces. The phase composition of the coatings with different Y₂O₃ contents remained unchanged and was mainly composed of reinforcing phases of TiC, TiB₂, Ti₂Ni, and matrix α-Ti. With the addition of Y₂O₃, the coating microstructure was remarkably refined, the direction characteristic of the TiC dendrites obviously weakened, and the nucleation rate significantly increased. When the added Y₂O₃ was 3 wt%, a large amount of TiB₂–TiC-dependent growth composite phases precipitated in the coating. The two-dimensional lattice misfit between (0001)_TiB2 and (111)_TiC was 0.912%, which indicated that TiB₂ and TiC formed a coherent interface. When the amount of Y₂O₃ was increased, the microhardness of the coatings gradually decreased, and the wear volume of the coatings first increased and then decreased. Under the effect of the TiB₂–TiC composite phases, the wear resistance of the 3 wt% Y₂O₃ coating was optimal. The 3 wt% Y₂O₃ coating friction coefficient was the lowest, and the wear mechanism was abrasive wear.     

Study of ion bombardment of SiC ceramics: Surface and interfacial reaction modification

Ar ion bombardment was conducted to modify the SiC surface microstructures, which had a vital effect on the interfacial microstructure and shear property of brazing joints. The amorphous layer with thickness of ∼120 nm was formed on the bombarded surface, accompanied with plenty of dislocations and twins beneath the amorphous layer. Reliable SiC/AgCu-Ti/SiC joints were brazed in vacuum at 900 °C for 10 min, and the interfacial microstructure was investigated by SEM, EDS and TEM in detail. When the ion bombarded SiC was used as substrates, the microstructure of brazing beam was optimized as SiC / Ti₅Si₃ + TiC mixed layer / Ag(s,s) + Cu(s,s) containing TiCu / Ti₅Si₃ + TiC mixed layer / SiC, in which the interfacial stratification was eliminated compared to the conventional SiC brazing. The shear strength was improved to 30.9 MPa with ion bombardment, which was ∼72.6 % higher than that of the original SiC joints without ion bombardment. The proposed Ar ion bombardment method provides a novel way to modify the brazability of ceramics.     

Mechanical properties,fatigue damage and microstructure of carbon/epoxy laminates depending on fibre volume content

This paper investigates the effect of fibre volume fraction on the fatigue behaviour and damage mechanisms of carbon/epoxy laminates. Epoxy resin and unidirectional carbon/epoxy specimens with two different fibre volume fractions are tested under quasi-static tensile and tension–tension fatigue loads at angles of 0°, 45° and 90°. Fracture surfaces are studied with scanning electron microscopy. The results show that stiffness and strength increase with increasing fibre volume fractions. The damage behaviour of off-axis specimens changes with increasing fibre volume content and the height of the applied cyclic load. While matrix cracking and interfacial debonding are dominating damage mechanisms in specimens with low fibre content, fibre bridging and pull out are monitored with increasing fibre content. The higher the applied load in fatigue tests transverse to fibre direction, the more similar behave specimens with different fibre volume fractions.     

Effect of welding parameters on the fatigue properties of dissimilar AISI 2205–AISI 1020 joined by friction welding

In this study, AISI 2205 duplex stainless steel, most commonly used in its class and economical AISI 1020 steel couple with low carbon content, were connected using different operation parameters through friction welding. Tension test and rotary bending fatigue test were applied to the welded connections, and the impact of the welding parameters on fatigue strength was examined. It was discovered that when the welding parameters used in connecting AISI 2205 and AISI 1020 steel couple through friction welding were selected correctly, fatigue strength of the connection would increase compared to the main material, and incompliant parameters decreased fatigue strength.     

Liquid-state interfacial reactions in Sn–Zn/Pd couples and phase equilibria of the Sn–Zn–Pd system at 260 °C

This study investigated the effects of Zn contents on the reaction products and microstructural evolution in the liquid/solid Sn–Zn/Pd interfacial reactions at 260 °C. A uniform Pd₂Zn₉ layer was formed at the Sn–9 wt.%Zn/Pd interface. The reaction phase transited from Pd₂Zn₉ to PdSn₄ when the Zn content decreased from 2 wt.% to 1 wt.%. The most striking feature is that the PdSn₄ growth was greatly suppressed with only 0.5 wt.% Zn addition in solders. Additionally, a drastic microstructural evolution was observed in the Sn–1.5 wt.%Zn/Pd reaction. The Pd₂Zn₉ layer was initially formed and then it was detached from the interface due to the decrease in the Zn content. Subsequently, the dominant phase changed to the PdSn₄ phase. Furthermore, a partial isothermal section in the Sn–Zn–Pd ternary system (less than 20 at.%Pd) at 260 °C was experimentally determined. The liquid apex of the liquid + PdSn₄ + Pd₂Zn₉ tie-triangle was located at Sn–2.7 at.%Zn–1.0 at.%Pd. The phase transition from Pd₂Zn₉ to PdSn₄ in the interfacial reactions was in good agreement with the phase equilibria relationship.     

Effect of aluminum on microstructure,mechanical properties and pitting corrosion resistance of ultra-pure 429 ferritic stainless steels

Effect of aluminum on microstructure, mechanical properties and pitting corrosion resistance of ultra-pure 429 ferritic stainless steels has been investigated. Aluminum can significantly increase the ratio of equiaxed crystal grains, but the promotion effect has great relation with aluminum content. Aluminum can stabilize ferrite phase and significantly reduce recrystallization temperature. Increased aluminum content can also lead to the precipitate of AlN and Al₂O₃ at higher temperature. The increased amount of AlN may partly contribute to the reduced nitrogen element to form austenite at high temperature, hence the high temperature phase transformation of α + γ → α occurs. The fine and large number of Al₂O₃ particles can refine grain size and then promote recrystallization. The highest intensity of γ-fiber texture {1 1 1}〈1 1 2〉 is observed in the steel with 0.19 wt.% aluminum, which can improve the formability of steels. With the increase of aluminum content, the tensile strength increases linearly but the elongation and plastic strain ratio first increase then decrease, the working hardening index varies slightly among the steels. Appearance of Al₂O₃ inclusions with small size and decreased content of MnS benefit pitting corrosion resistance. However, the large dimension Al₂O₃ inclusions have significantly negative influence on pitting corrosion resistance.