Mo–Si–B alloys for ultra-high-temperature space and ground applications: liquid-assisted fabrication under various temperature and time conditions

Journal of Materials Science - Boron-doped molybdenum silicides have been already recognized as attractive candidates for space and ground ultra-high-temperature applications far beyond limits of...     

Wetting Behavior and Reactivity of Molten Silicon with h-BN Substrate at Ultrahigh Temperatures up to 1750 °C

For a successful implementation of newly proposed silicon-based latent heat thermal energy storage systems, proper ceramic materials that could withstand a contact heating with molten silicon at temperatures much higher than its melting point need to be developed. In this regard, a non-wetting behavior and low reactivity are the main criteria determining the applicability of ceramic as a potential crucible material for long-term ultrahigh temperature contact with molten silicon. In this work, the wetting of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) by molten silicon was examined for the first time at temperatures up to 1750 °C. For this purpose, the sessile drop technique combined with contact heating procedure under static argon was used. The reactivity in Si/h-BN system under proposed conditions was evaluated by SEM/EDS examinations of the solidified couple. It was demonstrated that increase in temperature improves wetting, and consequently, non-wetting-to-wetting transition takes place at around 1650 °C. The contact angle of 90° ± 5° is maintained at temperatures up to 1750 °C. The results of structural characterization supported by a thermodynamic modeling indicate that the wetting behavior of the Si/h-BN couple during heating to and cooling from ultrahigh temperature of 1750 °C is mainly controlled by the substrate dissolution/reprecipitation mechanism.     

Silicon-Boron Alloys as New Ultra-High Temperature Phase-Change Materials: Solid/Liquid State Interaction with the h-BN Composite

Silicon-boron alloys have been recently pointed out as novel ultra-high temperature phase change materials for applications in Latent Heat Thermal Energy S     

Microscopic approach to micromechanism of damage in spheroidal cast iron

In this work, the observations of the fracture surface after standard tensile tests of several kinds of spheroidal cast irons, ferritic and austempered ductile irons, have been carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy. The local crack path in the area of graphite (G)/matrix (M) interface has been analyzed as affected by a matrix phase composition and the austempering treatment parameters. The obtained results allowed identifying some determination factors for debonding mode at the G/M interface and their role in a final damage mechanism. Some microstructural details in the microregions composed of graphite and matrix showed that the G–M debonding mode in the separation area of the G/M interface seems to be controlled by macroscopic properties of the alloy and by the morphology of G/M interface. On the other hand, the internal destruction of graphite nodule has been mainly determined by a structure and anisotropy of graphite crystal lattice.