Studies on transport phenomena during solidification of an aluminum alloy in the presence of linear electromagnetic stirring

Numerical and experimental studies on transport phenomena during solidification of an aluminum alloy in the presence of linear electromagnetic stirring are performed. The alloy is electromagnetically stirred to produce semisolid slurry in a cylindrical graphite mould placed in the annulus of a linear electromagnetic stirrer. The mould is cooled at the bottom, such that solidification progresses from the bottom to the top of the cylindrical mould. A numerical model is developed for simulating the transport phenomena associated with the solidification process using a set of single-phase governing equations of mass. momentum, energy. and species conservation. The viscosity variation of the slurry, used in the model, is determined experimentally using a rotary viscometer. The set of governing equations is solved using a pressure-based finite volume technique, along with an enthalpy based phase change algorithm. The numerical study involves prediction of temperature, velocity, species and solid fraction distribution in the mould. Corresponding solidification experiments are performed, with time-temperature history recorded at key locations. The microstructures at various temperature measurement locations in the solidified billet are analyzed. The numerical predictions of temperature variations are in good agreement with experiments, and the predicted flow field evolution correlates well with the microstructures observed at various locations.

Crack Tip Fields in a Single Edge Notched Aluminum Single Crystal Specimen

We report a combined experimental and computational study of a low constraint aluminum single crystal fracture geometry and investigate the near-tip stress and strain fields. To this end, a single edge notched tensile (SENT) specimen is considered. A notch, with a radius of 50 µm, is taken to lie in the (010) plane and its front is aligned along the [101] direction. Experiments are conducted by subjecting the specimen to tensile loading using a special fixture inside a scanning electron microscope chamber. Both SEM micrographs and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) maps are obtained from the near-tip region. The experiments are complemented by performing 3D and 2D plane strain finite element simulations within a continuum crystal plasticity framework assuming an isotropic hardening response characterized by the Pierce–Asaro–Needleman model. The simulations show a distinct slip band forming at about 55 deg with respect to the notch line corresponding to slip on (11-bar 1)[011] system, which corroborates well with experimental data. Furthermore, two kink bands occur at about 45 deg and 90 deg with respect to the notch line within which large rotations in the crystal orientation take place. These predictions are in good agreement with the EBSD observations. Finally, the near-tip angular variations of the 3D stress and plastic strain fields in the low constraint SENT fracture geometry are examined in detail.

Thermal properties of MOSi2 with minor aluminum substitutions

Mo(Si1-xAlx)(2) compositions (x = 0-0.1) have been prepared by a modified SHS route under uniaxial hydrostatic pressure. Oxidation studies carried out by thermal analysis and sheet resistivity indicate an improvement in the low temperature (700-900 K) oxidation resistance with increasing aluminum addition. Dilatometric results show a decrease in the a value up to x = 0.05 substitution. With the aluminum substitution, both thermal expansion coefficient and thermal conductivity show decrease in their values except in the biphasic region. The x = 0.05 composition containing both C11(b) and C40 phases is a promising material for high temperature thermal barrier coating as it shows higher oxidation resistance and a similar K/alpha value as compared to pure MoSi, (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optimization of friction stir welding parameters for dissimilar aluminum alloys

Assembly consisting of cast and wrought aluminum alloys has wide spread application in defense and aero space industries. For the efficacious use of the transition joints, the weld should have adequate strength and formability. In the present investigation, A356 and 6061 aluminum alloys were friction stir welded under tool rotational speed of 1000-1400 rpm and traversing speed of 80-240 mm/min, keeping other parameters same. The variable process window is responsible for the change in total heat input and cooling rate during welding. Structural characterization of the bonded assemblies exhibits recovery-recrystallization in the stirring zone and breaking of coarse eutectic network of Al-Si. Dispersion of fine Si rich particles, refinement of 6061 grain size, low residual stress level and high defect density within weld nugget contribute towards the improvement in bond strength. Lower will be the tool rotational and traversing speed, more dominant will be the above phenomena. Therefore, the joint fabricated using lowest tool traversing and rotational speed, exhibits substantial improvement in bond strength (similar to 98% of that of 6061 alloy), which is also maximum with respect to others. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antipyrine complexes of rare-earth nitrates

Antipyrine complexes of eight rare-earth nitrates of the composition M(C11H12N2O)3 (NO3)3 where M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Er, and Y, have been prepared by a new, simple method and characterised. The complexes undergo exothermic decomposition at ~3oo°C. Infrared and U.V. spectral studies of the complexes indicate that antipyrine coordinates to metal through oxygen. The nature of the nitrate bonding is discussed in the light of infrared evidence, and conductivity studies in nitromethane and dimethylformamide.

Dimethyl sulphoxide complexes of lanthanide and yttrium nitrates

Dimethyl sulphoxide complexes of lanthanide and yttrium nitrates of the general formula M(DMSO)n(NO3)3 where M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm or Gd; n = 4 and M = Y, Ho or Yb; n = 3 have been isolated and characterized. The i.r. data besides excluding the presence of D3h nitrate, reveal co-ordination through the oxygen atom of the dimethyl sulphoxide. The complexes are monomeric in acetonitrile. Molecular conductance data in acetone, acetonitrile, dimethyl formamide and dimethyl sulphoxide suggest a co-ordination number of eight for the lighter lanthanides and seven for yttrium and the heavier lanthanides.

Dimethyl formamide complexes of rare-earth nitrates

Dimethyl formamide complexes of five rare-earth nitrates, M(DMF)4(NO3)3 where M = La, Pr, Nd, Sm or Y have been prepared and their infra-red spectra and conductivities in nitromethane and DMF studied. It is suggested that the co-ordination number of the metal ion in these complexes is nine.

Steroids and related natural products. VII. Boron trifluoride etherate-lithium aluminum hydride reduction of smilagenin acetate

Reduction of smilagenin acetate (Va) using a boron trifluoride etherate-lithium aluminum hydride reagent, followed by hydrogen peroxide oxidation and acetylation, was found to yield: 3β-ethoxysmilagenin (Vb), 3β-ethoxydihydrosmilagenin acetate (VIa), dihydrosmilagenin diacetate (VIb), and a complex mixture of partially acetylated products. Similar reaction conditions were employed to convert dihydrodiosgenin (II) to dihydrochlorogenin (III). Boron trifluoride etherate-lithium aluminum hydride reduction of 3β-acetoxy-5α-cholestane and 3β-acetoxy-5α-lanostane (VIIIa) was shown to yield the corresponding 3β-ethoxy (e.g., VIIIb) derivatives.

Dry sliding wear behavior of Al2O3 fiber reinforced aluminum composites

Dry sliding wear behavior of die-cast ADC12 aluminum alloy composites reinforced with short alumina fibers were investigated by using a pin-on-disk wear tester. The Al2O3 fibers were 4 mu m in diameter and were present in volume fractions (T-f)ranging from 0.03 to 0.26, The length of the fiber varied from 40 to 200 mu m. Disks of aluminum-alumina composites were rubbed against a pin of nitrided stainless steel SUS440B with a load of 10 N at a sliding velocity of 0.1 m/s. The unreinforced ADC 12 aluminum alloy and their composites containing low volume fractions of alumina (V-f approximate to 0.05) showed a sliding-distance-dependent transition from severe to mild wear. However, composites containing high volume fractions of alumina ( V-f > 0.05) exhibited only mild wear for all sliding distances. The duration of occurrence of the severe wear regime and the wear rate both decrease with increasing volume fraction. In MMCs the wear rate in the mild wear regime decreases with increase in volume fraction: reaching a minimum value at V-f = 0.09 Beyond V-f = 0.09 the wear rate increasesmarginally. On the other hand, the wear rate of the counterface (steel pin) was found to increase moderately with increase in V-f. From the analysis of wear data and detailed examination of (a) worn surfaces, (b) their cross-sections and (c) wear debris, two modes of wear mechanisms have been identified to be operative, in these materials and these are: (i) adhesive wear in the case of unreinforced matrix material and in MMCs with low Vf and (ii) abrasive wear in the case of MMCs with high V-f. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

An elastic-viscoplastic constitutive model for the hot-forming of aluminum alloys

Under hot-forming conditions characterized by high homologous temperatures and strain-rates, metals usually exhibit rate-dependent inelastic behavior. An elastic-viscoplastic constitutive model is presented here to describe metal behavior during hot-forming. The model uses an isotropic internal variable to represent the resistance offered to plastic deformation by the microstructure. Evolution equations are developed for the inelastic strain and the deformation resistance based on experimental results. A methodology is presented for extracting model parameters from constant true strain-rate compression tests performed at different temperatures. Model parameters are determined for an Al-1Mn alloy and an Al-Mg-Si alloy, and the predictions of the model are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental data. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Role of aluminum-magnesium alloys in humid aging of composite solid propellants

The humid aging of composite propellants containing a terpolymer of polybutadiene, acrylic acid, and acrylonitrile (PBAN) as a binder has been studied as a function of aging temperature, relative humidity, and aging time. Three composite types - AP-PBAN, AP-Al-PBAN, and AP-(Al-Mg) alloy- PBAN - have been studied. The burning rates of all three propellant types were unaffected by aging. The calorimetric values of composites containing aluminum-magnesium alloy decreased on aging, and the lattice parameter of the alloy decreased to a value close to that of aluminum. Water absorption in all of the samples increased with increases in the temperature, relative humidity, and aging time. The compression strength of the nonmetalized and aluminized samples decreased on aging, whereas that of the composites containing the alloy increased. The latter effect has been traced to reaction of residual carboxyl groups on the polymer chains with magnesium, leading to cross-linking. The reaction between the -COOH groups and magnesium has been proved using infrared spectroscopy. (Author)