Effect of Y_2O_3 content in the pack mixtures on microstructure and oxidation resistance of B–Y modified silicide coating

B–Y modified silicide coatings were prepared on Nb–Si based alloy by pack cementation at 1300 ℃ for 10 h. The effect of Y_2O_3 content in the pack mixtures on microstructure and oxidation resistance of the coatings was investigated. The results show that the four coatings have similar structures, which possess a(Nb,X)Si_2 outer layer and a(Nb,X)_5Si_3 transitional layer. Y_2O_3 content in the pack mixtures has an obvious effect on the Si content in the coating. The mass gains of the coatings prepared with 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 wt% Y_2O_3 in pack mixtures are 2.33, 1.96, 2.05 and 2.86 mg/cm~2 after oxidation at 1250 ℃ for 100 h, respectively. The coating prepared with 1 wt% Y_2O_3 exhibits the best oxidation resistance due to the formation of a dense glass-like borosilicate scale.     

Oxidation behaviours of Nb–22Ti–15Si–2Al–2Hf–2V–(2, 14)Cr alloys with Al and Y modified silicide coatings prepared by pack cementation

Al and Y modified silicide coatings on the Nb-15Si-22Ti-(2,14)Cr-2Al-2Hf-2V alloys(where the alloy with 2 at%Cr or 14 at%Cr is hereafter referred to as 2Cr and 14 Cr alloy,respectively) was prepared by pack cementation.The microstructural evolution and the oxidation behaviours of the coating 2Cr and 14 Cr samples at 1250 ℃ were studied.The 2Cr alloy consists of Nb solid solution(Nb_(SS)) and α-Nb_5Si_3 silicide,while the Laves C15-Cr_2Nb phase arised in the 14 Cr alloy.The coating structure of the coating 2Cr sample contained the outer(Nb,X)Si_2+(Nb,X)_5Si_3 layer,the middle(Nb,X)_5Si_3 layer and the inner undeveloped intermetallic(Nb,Ti)_3(Al,X) layer,the structure of the coating 14 Cr sample consisted of the outer single(Nb,X)Si_2 layer,the middle(Nb,X)_5Si_3 layer,the transition(Nb,Ti)(Cr,Al) layer and the inner(Cr,Al)_2(Nb,Ti) layer.The coating 14 Cr sample exhibited better oxidation resistance than the coating 2Cr sample.With an outer single(Nb,X)Si_2 layer,a compact oxide scale consisting of SiO_2 and TiO_2 formed on the coating14 Cr sample,which can efficiently prevent the substrate from oxidising.For the coating 2Cr sample with an outer(Nb,X)Si_2 +(Nb,X)_5Si_3 layer,the oxide scale of the SiO_2,TiO_2,Nb_2O_5 and CrNbO_4 mixture generated,and the scale spalled out from the surface of the sample,resulting in disastrous failure.     

Vapor phase codeposition of Cr and Si on Nb-base in situ composites by pack cementation process

In order to identify suitable halide activators and pack compositions for codepositing Cr and Si to form diffusion coatings on Nb-base in situ composites by the pack cementation process, thermochemical calculation was taken to analyze the vapor pressure of halide species generated at high temperatures. NH4Cl, NaF and CrCl3·6H2O were selected as the halide salts. The results of thermochemical calculations suggested that the pack powder mixtures, which contained Cr, Si, halide salts and Al2O3, may be activated by NH4Cl and NaF. According to the thermochemical calculations, the pack powder mixture of 12Cr-6Si-5NH4Cl-77Al2O3 (wt%) activated by NH4Cl was formulated and coating deposition experiments were carried out at 1200 and 1300℃. With adequate control of pack compositions and deposition conditions, it was found that codeposition of Cr and Si could indeed be achieved at these temperatures. The coating has a three-layer structure, of which was mainly composed of Cr2(Nb,X) (X represents Ti and Hf elements), Nb5Si3 and (Nb,Cr)3Si. Then the kinetics of coating growth process affected by temperature was studied. The experimental results of the oxidation showed that the coating can efficiently prevent substrate from oxidizing.     

Oxidation and interdiffusion behavior of a germanium-modified silicide coating on an Nb-Si-based alloy

To investigate the interdiffusion behavior of Ge-modified silicide coatings on an Nb-Si-based alloy substrate, the coating was oxidized at 1250℃ for 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 h. The interfacial diffusion between the (Nb,X)(Si,Ge)₂ (X=Ti, Cr, Hf) coating and the Nb-Si based alloy was also examined. The transitional layer is composed of (Ti,Nb)₅(Si,Ge)₄ and a small amount of (Nb,X)₅(Si,Ge)₃. With increasing oxidation time, the thickness of the transitional layer increases because of the diffusion of Si from the outer layer to the substrate, which obeys a parabolic rate law. The parabolic growth rate constant of the transitional layer under oxidation conditions is 2.018 μm·h-1/2. Moreover, the interdiffusion coefficients of Si in the transitional layer were determined from the interdiffusion fluxes calculated directly from experimental concentration profiles.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb–Si alloys fabricated by spark plasma sintering

This paper deals with microstructural evolutions and mechanical properties of Nb-Si binaries containing dual-phase Nb/Nb5Si3 with Nb to Nb5Si3 fraction ratios of 90:10,80:20,70:30 and 50:50,prepared by spark plasma sintering(SPS).Dense Nb/Nb5Si3 samples with a relative density larger than 99.5% were obtained by SPS processing.The SPS samples consist of the Nb and Nb5Si3 phases with less than 3% fraction of NbO oxide.Hv at room temperature,and compressive strength at 1150℃ and 1250 1C of the bulk SPS alloys increase monolithically by enhancing fraction of the stiffening Nb5Si3 phase.For example,0.2% yield strength,σ0.2,increases from 175 MPa to 420 MPa at 1150℃ and from 110 MPa to 280 MPa at 1250℃,when the Nb5Si3 fraction increases from 10% to 50%.It is interesting that the fracture toughness,KQ,of the bulk SPS samples seems not to be sensitive to phase fraction.Heat treatment,however,plays a key role on the KQ as compared with that of the as-sintered state,at the corresponding Nb5Si3 fraction and considerably improves the KQ by about 100% for samples with the Nb5Si3 fractions of 10%-30%,and by about 50% for the sample with 50% Nb5Si3 fraction.     

Effects of alloying and high-temperature heat treatment on the microstructure of Nb–Ti–Si based ultrahigh temperatur e alloys

The phase co mpositions, microstructure and especi ally phase i nterfaces in the as-cast and heat-treated Nb– Ti–Si based ultrahigh temperature alloys have been investigated. It is shown that β(Nb,X)5Si3 and γ(Nb,X)5Si3 are the primary p hase s in the Nb–22Ti–16Si–5Cr–5Al (S1) (at%) and Nb–20Ti–16Si–6C r–4Al–5Hf–2B–0.06Y (S2) (at% ) alloys, respectively. The Nb solid solution (Nbss) is the primary phase in Nb–22Ti–14Si–5Hf–3Al–1. 5B –0.0 6Y (S3) (at%) alloy . An orientation relationship between Nbss and γ(Nb,X)5Si3 was determine d to be (1-10)Nb//(101-0)γ and [111]Nb//[0001]γ in the as-cast S2 and S3 alloys. Some original β(Nb,X)5Si3 transfor med into α(Nb,X)5Si3 because Al and Cr diffused from the β(Nb,X)5Si3 to Nbss during heattreatment at 1500 °C for 50 h in the S1 alloy. Mean while, Ti diffused from Nbss to β(Nb,X)5Si3, which induced a Ti to generate near the interface between Nbss and Ti-rich β(Nb,X)5Si3. The orientation relationship between the newl y-formed a Ti and previous Nbss was (110 )Nb//(1-10-1) αTi and [001]Nb//(12-3-1)αTi. Among the ( Nb,X)5Si3 phases , the contents o f Cr and Al in β(Nb,X)5Si3 are n earl y the same as those in γ(Nb,X)5Si3 but obviously hi gher than those in the α(Nb,X)5Si3, where as the content of Si in α(Nb,X)5Si3 is nearly the same a s that in γ(Nb,X)5Si3 but higher than that in the β(Nb,X)5Si3     

Electroplating of Ni/Co–pumice multilayer nanocomposite coatings: Effect of current density on crystal texture transformations and corrosion behavior

The present paper aims to investigate the influence of the current density in the electroplating process on the microstructure, crystal texture transformations, and corrosion behavior of Ni/Co-pumice multilayer nanocomposite coatings. The Ni/Co-pumice composite coatings were prepared by deposition of Ni, followed by the simultaneous deposition of pumice nanoparticles (NPs) in a Co matrix via an electroplating process at various current densities. Afterward, the morphology, size, topography, and crystal texture of the obtained samples were investigated. Furthermore, electrochemical methods were used to investigate the corrosion behavior of the produced coatings in a solution of 3.5wt% NaCl. The results indicated that increasing the plating current density changed the mechanism of coating growth from the cell state to the column state, increased the coating thickness, roughness, and texture coefficient (TC) of the Co (203) plane, and reduced the amount of pumice NPs incorporated into the Ni/Co-pumice composite. The electrochemical results also indicated that increasing the current density enhanced the corrosion resistance of the Ni/Co-pumice composite.     

Effect of pickling processes on the microstructure and properties of electroless Ni–P coating on Mg–7.5Li–2Zn–1Y alloy

The electroless plating Ni–P is prepared on the surface of Mg–7.5Li–2Zn–1Y alloys with different pickling processes.The microstructure and properties of Ni–P coating are investigated.The results show that the Ni–P coatings deposited using the different pickling processes have a different high phosphorus content amorphous Ni–P solid solution structure,and the Ni–P coatings exhibit higher hardness.There is higher phosphorus content of Ni–P amorphous coating using 125 g/L Cr O3and 110 ml/L HNO3(w68%)than using 180 g/L Cr O3and 1 g/L KF during pre-treatment,and the coating structure is more compact,and the Ni–P coatings exhibit more excellent adhesion with substrate(Fcup to22 N).The corrosion potential of Ni–P coating is improved and exhibits good corrosion resistance.As a result,Mg-7.5Li-2Zn-1Y alloy is remarkably protected by the Ni–P coating.     

High-temperature oxidation behavior of 9Cr-5Si-3Al ferritic heat-resistant steel

To improve the oxidation properties of ferritic heat-resistant steels,an Al-bearing 9Cr-5Si-3Al ferritic heat-resistant steel was designed.We then conducted cyclic oxidation tests to investigate the high-temperature oxidation behavior of 9Cr-5Si and 9Cr-5Si-3Al ferritic heat-resistant steels at 900 and 1000℃.The characteristics of the oxide layer were analyzed by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,and energy dispersive spectroscopy.The results show that the oxidation kinetics curves of the two tested steels follow the parabolic law,with the parabolic rate constant k_p of 9Cr-5Si-3Al steel being much lower than that of 9Cr-5Si steel at both 900 and 1000℃.The oxide film on the surface of the 9Cr-5Si alloy exhibits Cr_2MnO_4 and Cr_2O_3 phases in the outer layer after oxidation at 900 and 1000℃.However,at oxidation temperatures of 900 and 1000℃,the oxide film of the 9Cr-5Si-3Al alloy consists only of Al_2O_3 and its oxide layer is thinner than that of the 9Cr-5Si alloy.These results indicate that the addition of Al to the 9Cr-5Si steel can improve its high-temperature oxidation resistance,which can be attributed to the formation of a continuous and compact Al_2O_3 film on the surface of the steel.     

Solid state interfacial reactions in electrodeposited Ni/Sn couples

Ni/Sn couples, prepared by sequentially electroplating Ni layers and Sn layers on metallized Si wafers, were employed to study the microstructures and growth kinetics of Ni-Sn intermediate phases, when the Ni/Sn couples were aged at room temperature or annealed at temperatures from 150 to 225℃ for various times. The results show that the NiSn phase and Ni₃Sn₄ phase are formed, respectively, in the aged couples and annealed couples. The Ni₃Sn₄ layer is continuously distributed between the Ni and Sn sides in the annealed Ni/Sn couples. The Ni₃Sn₄ growth follows parabolic growth kinetics with an apparent activation energy of 39.0 kJ/mol.     

Hot corrosion behavior of nanostructured Gd2O3 doped YSZ thermal barrier coating in presence of Na2SO4 + V 2O5 molten salts

Nickel-based superalloy DZ125 was first sprayed with a NiCrAlY bond coat and followed with a nanostructured 2 mol% Gd_2O_3-4.5 mol% Y_2 O_3-ZrO_2(2 GdYSZ) topcoat using air plasma spraying(APS). Hot corrosion behavior of the as-sprayed thermal barrier coatings(TBCs) were investigated in the presence of 50 wt%Na_2SO_4 + 50 wt% V_2O_5 as the corrosive molten salt at 900 ℃ for 100 h. The analysis results indicate that Gd doped YVO_4 and m-ZrO_2 crystals were formed as corrosion products due to the reaction of the corrosive salts with stabilizers(Y_2O_3, Gd_2O_3) of zirconia. Cross-section morphology shows that a thin layer called TGO was formed at the bond coat/topcoat interface. After hot corrosion test, the proportion of m-ZrO_2 phase in nanostructured 2GdYSZ coating is lower than that of nano-YSZ coating. The result reveals that nanostructured 2GdYSZ coating exhibits a better hot corrosion resistance than nano-YSZ coating.     

Phase stability and thermal conductivity of ytterbia and yttria co-doped zirconia

Rare earth oxides doping has been extensively investigated as one of the effective methods to lower thermal conductivity of 4.55 mol% Y2O3stabilized ZrO2(YSZ) thermal barrier coatings(TBCs).In the present work,5–6 mol% Yb2O3and Y2O3co-doped ZrO2ceramics were synthesized by solid reaction sintering at 1600 1C.The phase stability of the samples after heat treatment at 1500 1C was investigated.Yb2O3and Y2O3co-doped zirconia,especially when Yb2O3/Y2O3≥1,contained less monoclinic phase than single Yb2O3or Y2O3phase doped zirconia,indicating that co-doped zirconia was more stable at high temperature than YSZ.The thermal conductivity of the 3 mol% Yb2O3+3 mol% Y2O3co-doped ZrO2was 1.8 W m 1K 1at 1000 1C,which was more than 20% lower than that of YSZ.     

Fabrication of fine spongy nanoporous Ag-Au alloys with improved catalysis properties

Fine NP-AgAu(nanoporous AgAu) alloys with spongy structure was fabricated by chemical dealloying from rapidly solidified amorphous precursors Ag_(38.75-x)Cu_(38.75)Si_(22.5)Au_x(x=0, 0.5, 1 and 5). The results indicate that the addition of small content Au in precursor can refine both the ligaments and pores obviously. Among the present components of the precursors, NP-AgAu alloys dealloying from Ag_(37.75)Cu_(38.75)Si_(22.5)Au_1 had the finest spongy structure. The size of pores was 5–10 nm and the grain size of ligaments was 10–20 nm. It also had the highest surface area of 106.83 m~2g~(-1) and the best catalytic activity towards electro-oxidation of formaldehyde with the peak current of 665 mA mg~(-1).     

Microstructure, mechanical and thermo-physical properties of hot-pressed Al2O3-GdAlO3-ZrO2 ceramics with eutectic composition

A low cost chemical co-precipitation method was employed to fabricate nanoscale Al_2O_3-GdAlO_3-ZrO_2 powder with eutectic composition. A careful control of reaction conditions was required during the preparation. The synthesized nanopowders exhibited a particle size of 20-200 nm, and were highly dispersive and uniform. The results showed that calcination temperature had an important influence on the phase constituents of the nanopowders. With increasing the calcination temperature, a phase transformation from θ-Al_2O_3 to α-Al_2O_3 and a thermal decomposition from Gd_3 Al_5O_(12)(GdAG) to GdAlO_3 and α-Al_2O_3 occurred in sequence. A calcination temperature of 1300 ℃ was needed for the crystallization of α-Al_2 O_3. These nanosized powders were consolidated via hot pressing to produce a fully densified ceramic composite with eutectic composition. The Al_2O_3-GdAlO_3-ZrO_2 ceramic hot-pressed at 1500 ℃ exhibited a relative density of 99.4%, a flexural strength of 485 MPa and a fracture toughness of 6.5 MPa m~(1/2). The ceramic had a thermal conductivity of 1.9 W m K~(-1) at 1200 ℃ and a thermal expansion coefficient of 9.49 ×10~(-6) K~(-1) at 1100 ℃.     

Joining of Si3N4 ceramic using PdCo(Ni SiB)–V system brazingfi ller alloy and interfacial reactions

The wettability of V-active PdCo-based alloys on Si3N4ceramic was studied with the sessile drop method. And the alloy of Pd50.0–Co33.7–Ni4.0–Si2.0–B0.7–V9.6(wt%),was developed for Si3N4ceramic joining in the present investigation. The rapidly-solidified brazing foils were fabricated by the alloy Pd50.0–Co33.7–Ni4.0–Si2.0–B0.7–V9.6. The average room-temperature three-point bend strength of the Si3N4/Si3N4joints brazed at 1453 K for 10 min was 205.6 MPa,and the newly developed braze gives joint strengths of 210.9 MPa,206.6 MPa and 80.2 MPa at high temperatures of 973 K,1073 K and 1173 K respectively. The interfacial reaction products in the Si3N4/Si3N4joint brazed at 1453 K for10 min were identified to be VN and Pd2Si by XRD analysis. Based on the XEDS analysis result,the residual brazing alloy existing at the central part of the joint was verified as Co-rich phases,in which the concentration of element Pd was high up to 18.0–19.1 at%. The mechanism of the interfacial reactions was discussed. Pd should be a good choice as useful alloying element in newer high-temperature braze candidates for the joining of Si-based ceramics.     

Microstructure and oxidation resistance of SiC–MoSi2 multi-phase coating for SiC coated C/C composites

In order to improve the anti-oxidation of C/C composites, a SiC–MoSi2multi-phase coating for SiC coated carbon/carbon composites(C/C)was prepared by low pressure chemical vapor deposition(LPCVD) using methyltrichlorosilane(MTS) as precursor, combined with slurry painting from MoSi2 powder. The phase composition and morphology were analyzed by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) methods, and the deposition mechanism was discussed. The isothermal oxidation and thermal shock resistance were investigated in a furnace containing air environment at 1500 1C. The results show that the as-prepared SiC–MoSi2coating consists of MoSi2 particles as a dispersing phase and CVD–SiC as a continuous phase. The weight loss of the coated samples is 1.51% after oxidation at 1500 1C for 90 h, and 4.79% after 30 thermal cycles between 1500 1C and room temperature. The penetrable cracks and cavities in the coating served as the diffusion channel of oxygen, resulted in the oxidation of C/C composites, and led to the weight loss in oxidation.