Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC-particle-strengthening tri-metal Al/Cu/Ni composite produced by accumulative roll bonding process

In this study, a multilayer Al/Ni/Cu composite reinforced with SiC particles was produced using an accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process with different cycles. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this composite were investigated using optical and scanning microscopy and hardness and tensile testing. The results show that by increasing the applied strain, the Al/Ni/Cu multilayer composite converted from layer features to near a particle-strengthening characteristic. After the fifth ARB cycle, a composite with a uniform distribution of reinforcements (Cu, Ni, and SiC) was fabricated. The tensile strength of the composite increased from the initial sandwich structure to the first ARB cycle and then decreased from the first to the third ARB cycle. Upon reaching five ARB cycles, the tensile strength of the composite increased again. The variation in the elongation of the composite exhibited a tendency similar to that of its tensile strength. It is observed that with increasing strain, the microhardness values of the Al, Cu, and Ni layers increased, and that the dominant fracture mechanisms of Al and Cu were dimple formation and ductile fracture. In contrast, brittle fracture in specific plains was the main characteristic of Ni fractures.     

Crystallographic texture and earing behavior analysis for different second cold reductions of double-reduction tinplate

Since the production of tinplate with non-earing properties is difficult, especially when it is produced via the double-reduction process, the optimal degree of second cold reduction is particularly important for achieving desirable drawing properties. The evolution of texture and the earing propensity of double-reduction tinplate with different extents of second reduction were investigated in this study. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the changes in the microstructure at various extents of reduction. Two common testing methods, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction, were used to investigate the texture of the specimens, which revealed the effects of deformation percentage on the final texture development and the change in the grain boundary. The earing rate was determined via earing tests involving measurement of the height of any ear. The results obtained from both XRD analyses and earing tests revealed the same ideal value for the second cold reduction on the basis of the relationship between crystallographic texture and the degree of earing.     

Solid-phase synthesis of Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoS<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles for degradation of methyl blue under a halogen-tungsten lamp

The Cu₂MoS₄ nanoparticles were prepared using a relatively simple and convenient solid-phase process, which was applied for the first time. The crystalline structure, morphology, and optical properties of Cu₂MoS₄ nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. Cu₂MoS₄ nanoparticles having a band gap of 1.66 eV exhibits good photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue, which indicates that this simple process may be critical to facilitate the cheap production of photocatalysts.     

Effects of Zn content on the microstructure and the mechanical and corrosion properties of as-cast low-alloyed Mg–Zn–Ca alloys

The effects of Zn content on the microstructure and the mechanical and corrosion properties of as-cast low-alloyed Mg–xZn–0.2Ca alloys (x=0.6wt%, 2.0wt%, 2.5wt%, hereafter denoted as 0.6Zn, 2.0Zn, and 2.5Zn alloys, respectively) are investigated. The results show that the Zn content not only influences grain refinement but also induces different phase precipitation behaviors. The as-cast microstructure of the 0.6Zn alloy is composed of α-Mg, Mg₂Ca, and Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ phases, whereas 2.0Zn and 2.5Zn alloys only contain α-Mg and Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ phases, as revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Moreover, with increasing Zn content, both the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and the elongation to fracture first increase and then decrease. Among the three investigated alloys, the largest UTS (178 MPa) and the highest elongation to fracture (6.5%) are obtained for the 2.0Zn alloy. In addition, the corrosion rate increases with increasing Zn content. This paper provides an updated investigation of the alloy composition–microstructure–property relationships of different Zn-containing Mg–Zn–Ca alloys.     

Microstructure and corrosion behavior of Al<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ti/ADC12 composite modified with Sr

In this study, we investigated the effect of the addition of Sr (0wt%, 0.1wt%, 0.2wt%, and 0.3wt%) on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Al₃Ti/ADC12 composite by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy diffraction spectroscopy. The results reveal that the α-Al phases were nearly spherical and 40 μm in size and that the eutectic Si phases became round in the composite when the Sr content reached 0.2wt%. The Al₃Ti particles were distributed uniformly at the grain boundary. The results of the corrosion examination reveal that the Al₃Ti/ADC12 composite exhibited a minimum corrosion rate of 0.081 g·m–2·h–1 for an Sr content of 0.2wt%, which is two thirds of that of unmodified composite (0.134 g·m–2·h–1). This improved corrosion resistance was due to galvanic corrosion, which resulted from the low area ratio of the cathode to anode regions. This caused a low-density corrosion current in the composite, thereby yielding optimum corrosion resistance.     

Preparation and performance of a cold gas dynamic sprayed high-aluminum bronze coating

By mixing preheated high-aluminum bronze powders with different amounts of Al₂O₃ powder, a low-pressure cold-sprayed coating was prepared and sprayed onto a Cr12MoV steel substrate. The hardness of the coating and the bonding strength between the coating and the substrate were tested with a HV-1000 microhardness tester and a mechanical universal testing machine. The surface microstructure, cross-section and tensile fracture surface of the coating were observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Correspondingly, the influences of the preheat treatment temperature of the bronze powder and the Al₂O₃ content on the coating performance were investigated. The results indicate that the hardness of bronze powders decreased and the coating deposition rate increased after the preheating treatment of the bronze powder. The Al₂O₃ content in the mixed powders contributed to the deformation of bronze powders during the spraying process. This trend resulted in varied performance of the coating.     

Corrosion behavior of high-strength spring steel for high-speed railway

The corrosion resistance and evolution of corrosion products in medium-carbon high-strength spring steels were investigated in a neutral salt spray (5wt% NaCl solution). A formation model of γ-FeOOH and a transformation model describing the conversion of γ-FeOOH to α-FeOOH were constructed. The results indicated that, at the initial corrosion stage, the corrosion resistance was gradually improved with the addition of Cr; however, with the addition of alloying element V, the corrosion resistance decreased. These results were attributed mainly to the initial corrosion stage being closely related to the matrix microstructure parameters such as grain-boundary character and dislocation density. After the rust layer was formed at a later corrosion stage, the corrosion resistance was reinforced with the addition of Cr and V because Cr strongly influenced the composition, structure, and morphology of the corrosion products. The results presented herein show that Cr was conducive to the transformation of γ-FeOOH into α-FeOOH. Moreover, V and Cr exhibited obvious synergy and were enriched in the inner layer of the corrosion products.     

Improvement of microstructure and corrosion properties of friction stir welded AA5754 by adding Zn interlayer

This study investigated the effect of Zn foil layers on the microstructure and corrosion characteristics of friction stir welded aluminum alloy 5754. Samples of various joints were prepared by applying different rotational and welding speeds, and their microstructures were evaluated via a metallographic technique and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy elemental analysis. The anticorrosion behavior of joints in the absence and presence of a Zn interlayer was studied by cyclic potentiodynamic polarization test in 3.5wt% NaCl aqueous solution, and sound welds were obtained in the presence of the Zn interlayer foil. The results revealed that the joint made at a rotational speed of 800 r/min and traveling speed of 15 mm/min achieved a chemical composition identical to that of aluminum alloy 7xxx series, and as such, it showed the best resistance to corrosion.     

Process mineralogy characteristics of acid leaching residue produced in low-temperature roasting-acid leaching pretreatment process of refractory gold concentrates

To provide a theoretical basis for a suitable process to extract gold from refractory gold concentrates, process mineralogy on the acid leaching residue of gold calcine was studied by chemical composition, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy spectrum, and mineral dissociation analysis. The results showed that the acid leaching residue contained Au 68.22 g/t, Ag 92.71 g/t, Fe 0.44%, As 0.10%, and S 0.55%. Gold and silver minerals existed as native gold, argentite, and proustite. Quartz, the main gangue mineral, accounted for 78.33wt/%. The dissociation degree analysis showed that the proportions of monomer and exposed gold in acid leaching residue were 96.66wt%. The cyanidation results showed that the cyanide gold leaching rate of acid leaching residues was close to 100wt%. However, the maximum cyanide gold leaching rate of gold calcine was only 85.31wt%. This suggests that acid leaching can increase the gold dissolution rate in the cyanide process.     

Effect of Ce addition on microstructures and mechanical properties of A380 aluminum alloy prepared by squeeze-casting

The effect of cerium (Ce) addition on the eutectic Si, β-Al₅FeSi phase, and the tensile properties of A380 alloy specimens prepared by squeeze-casting were studied by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental results showed that Ce more effectively modified the eutectic Si and refined the β-Al₅FeSi. The refinement effect significantly increased under a specific pressure of 100 MPa with the addition of Ce from 0.1wt% to 0.9wt%. In contrast, the average length and the aspect ratio of the eutectic Si and β-Al₅FeSi exhibited their optimal values when the content of the added Ce was greater than 0.5wt%. Needle-like Al8Cu4Ce was precipitated with the addition of excessive Ce; hence, the mechanical properties of A380 gradually decreased with increasing Ce content in the range from 0.3wt% to 0.9wt%.