Microstructure and high-temperature wear and oxidation resistance of laser clad gamma/W2C/TiC composite coatings on gamma-TiAl intermetallic alloy

There are very strong interests in improving the high-temperature wear resistance of the y-TiAl intermetallic alloy, especially when applied as tribological moving components. In this paper, microstructure, high-temperature dry sliding wear at 600 degrees C and isothermal oxidation at 1000 degrees C on ambient air of laser clad gamma/W2C/TiC composite coatings with different constitution of Ni-Cr-W-C precursor mixed powders on TiAl alloy substrates have been investigated. The results show that microstructure of the laser fabricated composite coatings possess non-equilibrium microstructure consisting of the matrix of nickel-base solid solution gamma-NiCrAl and reinforcements of TiC, W2C and M23C6 carbides. Higher wear resistance than the original TiAl alloy is achieved in the composite coatings under high-temperature wear test conditions. However, the oxidation resistance of the laser clad gamma/W2C/TiC composite coatings is deceased. The corresponding mechanisms resulting in the above behaviors of the laser clad composite coatings are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and wear resistance of in situ TiCp composite coating by laser cladding

A new in situ method was realized by one step laser cladding to produce Ni-base alloy composite coating reinforced by in situ reacted and gradiently distributed TiCp particles. The submicron TiCp particles were formed and uniformly distributed because of the in situ reaction and trapping effect under the rapid solidification condition. And, TiCp particles were of gradient distribution on a macro scale and their volume fraction increased from 1.86% at the layer/substrate interface to a maximum 38.4% at the surface of the layer. Furthermore, the in situ generated TiCp/gamma-Ni interfaces were free from deleterious surface reactions. Additionally, the clad coating also revealed a high microhardness of gradient variation with the layer depth and the superior abrasive wear resistance.

Mechanisms of thermal shock failure for ultra-high temperature ceramic

The materials considered in our analysis were ZrB2 ceramic matrix composites. Effect of two different additives (graphite and AlN) on thermal shock stability for the materials was measured by water quench test. It showed that it may provide more stable thermal shock properties with additives of graphite. It was explained by different thermal properties and crack resistance of the two materials in detail. Surface oxidation was one of main reasons for strength degradation of ceramic with additives of graphite after quenched in water, and surface crack was one of main reasons for strength degradation of ceramic with additives of AlN after quenched in water. It was presented that it was a potential method for improving thermal shock stability of ZrB2 ceramic matrix composites by introducing proper quantities of graphite.

A study of the suppression of the high-temperature helium embrittlement in an oxide-particle dispersion strengthened alloy

In this paper, an investigation on the micro-structure of an Fe-base oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloy irradiated with high-energy Ne-20 ions to different doses at a temperature around 0.5T(m) (T-m is the melting point of the alloy) is presented. Investigation with the transmission electron microscopy found that the accelerated growth of voids at grain-boundaries, which is usually a concern in conventional Fe-base alloys under conditions of inert-gas implantation, was not observed in the ODS alloy irradiated even to the highest dose (12000 at.ppm Ne). The reason is ascribed to the enhanced recombination of point defects and strong trapping of Ne atoms at the interfaces of the nano-scale oxide particles in grains. The study showed that ODS alloys have good resistance to the high-temperature inter-granular embrittlement due to inert-gas accumulation, exhibiting prominence of application in harsh situations of considerable helium production at elevated temperatures like in a fusion reactor.

Radiation crosslinking of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) at high temperature

Poly(butylene succinate), (PBS) with different molecular weight was gamma -irradiated at different temperatures and various doses. PBS with high molecular weight and smaller peak area of crystal melting gave the highest gel content at the same temperatures and dose. A two-step irradiation (irradiation in molten state after irradiation at room temperature) gave the highest gel content in different conditions. This is due to the formation of network structure by pre-irradiation at room temperature that leads to less degradation. PBS prepared by two step irradiation was effective for improvement of heat stability because of high gel content formation. Unirradiated PBS sheets broke immediately at 110 degrees, while the irradiated sample (gel fraction, 50%) by a two step-method did not break even up to 200 minutes at 130 degreesC. The PBS sheets are biodegradable even after crosslinking.

HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR, YBA2CU3O7-X AS ALL-SOLID-STATE LITHIUM CELL

The utility of the high-temperature superconductor, YBa2Cu3O7-x as the cathode material for an all-solid-state lithium cell has been examined. The capacity of YBa2Cu3O7-x is 223 mA h g-1 and the discharge efficiency is > 92%. Measurements of a.c. impedance show that the charge-transfer resistance at the interface of the electrolyte/cathode is very low and increases with the depth-of-discharge of the battery. Studies using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveal that the cathode becomes doped with Li+ ions as the cell discharges.

Conjugate Model for Heat and Mass Transfer of Porous Wall in the High Temperature Gas Flow

Heat and mass transfer of a porous permeable wall in a high temperature gas dynamical flow is considered. Numerical simulation is conducted on the ground of the conjugate mathematical model which includes filtration and heat transfer equations in a porous body and boundary layer equations on its surface. Such an approach enables one to take into account complex interaction between heat and mass transfer in the gasdynamical flow and in the structure subjected to this flow. The main attention is given to the impact of the intraporous heat transfer intensity on the transpiration cooling efficiency.

Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Laser Clad gamma/Cr7C3/Tic Composite Coatings on gamma-TiA1 Intermetallic Alloy

In order to improve the wear resistance of the gamma-TiAl intermetallic alloy, microstructure, room- and high-temperature (600 degrees C) wear behaviors of laser clad gamma/Cr7C3/TiC composite coatings with different constitution of NiCr-Cr3C2 precursor-mixed powders have been investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS), block-on-ring (room-temperature) and pin-on-disk (high-temperature) wear tests. The responding wear mechanisms are discussed in detail. Results show that microstructures of the laser clad composite coatings have non-equilibrium solidified microstructures consisting of primary hard Cr7C3 and TiC carbides and the inter-primary gamma/Cr7C3 eutectic matrix, about three to five times higher average microhardness compared with the TiAl alloy substrate. Higher wear resistance than the original TiAl alloy is achieved in the clad composite coatings under dry sliding wear conditions, which is closely related to the formation of non-equilibrium solidified reinforced Cr7C3 and TiC carbides and the positive contribution of the relatively ductile and tough gamma/Cr7C3 eutectics matrix and their stability under high-temperature exposure.

The positive floating potential of high-temperature particles in plasma

It has been predicted that the floating potential of particles in plasma may become positive when the particle surface temperature is high enough, but, to our knowledge, no positive floating potential has been obtained yet. In the present paper the floating potential theory of high-temperature particles in plasma is developed to cover the positive potential range for the first time, and a general approximate analytical formula for the positive floating potential with a thin plasma sheath and subsonic plasma flow is derived from the new model recently proposed by the authors. The results show that when the floating potential is positive, the net flux of charge incident on the particle approaches a constant similar to the 'electron saturation' phenomena in the case of the electric probes.

Fiber grating sensors for high-temperature measurement

Two fiber grating sensors for high-temperature measurements are proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The interrogation technologies of the sensor systems are all simple, low cost but effective. In the first sensor system, the sensor head is comprised of one fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and two metal rods. The lengths of the rods are different from each other. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the rods are also different from each other. The FBG will be strained by the sensor head when the temperature to be measured changes. The temperature is measured based on the wavelength-shifts of the FBG induced by the strain. In the second sensor system, a long-period fiber grating (LPG) is used as the high-temperature sensor head. The LPG is very-high-temperature stable CO2-Aaser-induced grating and has a linear function of wavelength-temperature in the range of 0 - 800 degrees C. A dynamic range of 0 - 800 degrees C and a resolution of 1 degrees C have been obtained by either the first or the second sensor system. The experimental results agree with theoretical analyses. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel fiber Bragg grating high-temperature sensor

A novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for the measurement of high temperature is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The interrogation system of the sensor system is simple, low cost but effective. The sensor head is comprised of one FBG and two metal rods. The lengths of the rods are different from each other. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the rods are also different from each other. The FBG will be strained by the sensor head when the temperature to be measured changes. The temperature is measured basis of the wavelength shifts of the FBG induced by strain. A dynamic range of 0-800 degrees C and a resolution of 1 degrees C have been obtained by the sensor system. The experiment results agree with theoretical analyses. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

High temperature annealing effect on structure, optical property and laser-induced damage threshold of Ta2O5 films

Ta2O5 films were deposited by conventional electron beam evaporation method and then annealed in air at different temperature from 873 to 1273 K. It was found that the film structure changed from amorphous phase to hexagonal phase when annealed at 1073 K, then transformed to orthorhombic phase after annealed at 1273 K. The transmittance was improved after annealed at 873 K, and it decreased as the annealing temperature increased further. The total integrated scattering (TIS) tests and AFM results showed that both scattering and root mean square (RMS) roughness of films increased with the annealing temperature increasing. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that the film obtained better stoichiometry and the O/Ta ratio increased to 2.50 after annealing. It was found that the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) increased to the maximum when annealed at 873 K, while it decreased when the annealing temperature increased further. Detailed damaged models dominated by different parameters during annealing were discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.