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%.     

Complementation in the composition of steel slag and red mud for preparation of novel ceramics

A method for preparing novel ceramics was developed in this study. Different ratios red muds were added to steel slags to optimize the preparation of novel ceramics by a traditional ceramic preparation process. The sintering mechanism, microstructure, and performance were studied by X-ray diffraction techniques, scanning electron microscopy, and combined experiments of linear shrinkage, water absorption, and flexural strength. The results confirmed that red mud can reduce the volumetric instabilities through the complementarity of red mud and ferroalloy slag. The crystal phases in the ceramics are all pyroxene group minerals, including diopside ferrian, augite, and diopside. The flexural strength of the ceramic that contains 40wt% red mud and was prepared at the optimal sintering temperature (1140℃) is greater than 93 MPa; its corresponding water absorption is less than 0.05%.     

Leaching behavior of V,Pb, Cd,Cr, and As from stone coal waste rock with different particle sizes

This paper investigates the leaching behavior of heavy metals (V, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As) from stone coal waste rocks with various particle sizes using dynamic leaching experiments. The results show that the dissolved concentrations of V and As initially increased and then slightly decreased as time progressed and that the dissolved concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr were high in the early stage before decreasing. The particle size of the stone coal waste rocks strongly influenced the heavy metal concentration in the leaching solutions. The effects of the particle size of the stone coal waste rocks on the dissolved concentrations of V, Pb, and As decreased in the order fine fraction > medium fraction > coarse fraction, and the effects of particle size on the dissolved concentrations of Cr and Cd decreased in the order medium fraction > coarse fraction > fine fraction and coarse fraction > medium fraction > fine fraction, respectively. The quantities of heavy metals dissolved from the stone coal waste rock with fine particle sizes were observed to decrease in the order V (17104.36 μg/kg) > As (609.41 μg/kg) > Pb (469.24 μg/kg) > Cr (56.35 μg/kg) > Cd (27.52 μg/kg), and the dissolution rates decreased in the order As (2.96%) > Pb (0.93%) > V (0.35%) > Cd (0.25%) > Cr (0.01%). The specific surface area, pore size of the stone coal waste rocks, and chemical forms of heavy metals also influenced the release of heavy metals from the stone coal waste rocks. Kinetic analysis showed that the dissolution of heavy metals fundamentally agreed with the rate equation controlled by the shrinking core model. The results of this study are expected to serve as a reference for the evaluation of heavy metals contamination from stone coal waste rocks.     

Microstructural characterization and oxidation resistance of multicomponent equiatomic CoCrCuFeNi-TiO high-entropy alloy

CoCrCuFeNi-TiO was prepared by arc melting of the pure elements and Ti₂CO powder under an Ar atmosphere. Both CoCrCuFeNi and CoCrCuFeNi-TiO alloys are composed of a face-centered cubic (fcc) solid solution, whereas the alloys of CoCrCuFeNi-TiO are basically composed of an fcc solid solution and TiO crystals. The microstructures of CoCrCuFeNi-TiO are identified as dendrite and interdendrite structures such as CoCrCuFeNi. The morphology of TiO is identified as an equiaxed crystal with a small amount of added Ti₂CO. By increasing the amount of Ti₂CO added, the TiO content was dramatically increased and part of the equiaxed crystals changed to a dendrite structure. A test of the oxidation resistance demonstrates that the oxidation resistance of CoCrCuFeNi-TiO is better than that of CoCrCuFeNi. However, as the TiO content increases further, a corresponding decrease is observed in the oxidation resistance.     

Effect of melting temperature on microstructural evolutions,behavior and corrosion morphology of Hadfield austenitic manganese steel in the casting process

In this study, the effect of melting temperature on the microstructural evolutions, behavior, and corrosion morphology of Hadfield steel in the casting process is investigated. The mold was prepared by the sodium silicate/CO₂ method, using a blind riser, and then the desired molten steel was obtained using a coreless induction furnace. The casting was performed at melting temperatures of 1350, 1400, 1450, and 1500℃, and the cast blocks were immediately quenched in water. Optical microscopy was used to analyze the microstructure, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractrometry (XRD) were used to analyze the corrosion morphology and phase formation in the microstructure, respectively. The corrosion behavior of the samples was analyzed using a potentiodynamic polarization test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5wt% NaCl. The optical microscopy observations and XRD patterns show that the increase in melting temperature led to a decrease of carbides and an increase in the austenite grain size in the Hadfield steel microstructure. The corrosion tests results show that with increasing melting temperature in the casting process, Hadfield steel shows a higher corrosion resistance. The SEM images of the corrosion morphologies show that the reduction of melting temperature in the Hadfield steel casting process induced micro-galvanic corrosion conditions.     

Mineral-phase evolution and sintering behavior of MO-SiO2-Al2O3-B2O3 (M=Ca,Ba) glass-ceramics by low-temperature liquid-phase sintering

In this work, network former SiO₂ and network intermediate Al₂O₃ were introduced into typical low-melting binary compositions CaO·B₂O₃, CaO·2B₂O₃, and BaO·B₂O₃ via an aqueous solid-state suspension milling route. Accordingly, multiple-phase aluminosilicate glass-ceramics were directly obtained via liquid-phase sintering at temperatures below 950℃. On the basis of liquid-phase sintering theory, mineral-phase evolutions and glass-phase formations were systematically investigated in a wide MO-SiO₂-Al₂O₃-B₂O₃ (M=Ca, Ba) composition range. The results indicate that major mineral phases of the aluminosilicate glass-ceramics are Al₂₀B₄O₃₆, CaAl₂Si₂O₈, and BaAl₂Si₂O₈ and that the glass-ceramic materials are characterized by dense microstructures and excellent dielectric properties.     

Experimental validation of inter-subspecific genetic diversity in rice represented by the differences between the DNA sequences of ‘Nipponbare’ and ‘93-11’

The pedigrees of three sequenced rice cultivars were analyzed to show that a majority of the genetic composition of 'Nipponbare' originates from japonica cultivars while the minority originates from indica cultivars. In contrast, '93-11' is derived mainly from indica cultivars with a smaller contribution from japonica cultivars. All ancestors of 'Guang lu ai 4' appeared to be indica lines. A set of molecular markers (46 InDels and 53 SSRs) polymorphic between 'Nipponbare' and '93-11' were examined in 46 typical indica and 47 typical japonica cultivars selected from 443 accessions according to Cheng's index. All cultivars were divided into indica and japonica groups without overlapping when clustered by Cheng's index, InDels and SSRs. Much higher InDel and SSR diversity between groups than within groups implies that the marker polymorphisms between 'Nipponbare' and '93-11' represent a large proportion of inter-subspecific diversity. About 85% of indica cultivars and more than 90% of japonica cultivars were confirmed to have the same PCR banding patterns as '93-11' and 'Nipponbare', respectively. Some polymorphic loci between 'Nipponbare' and '93-11' cannot be validated in other indica and japonica cultivars, either as subspecies-specific but not predominant alleles, or alleles not specific between the two groups. It was concluded that molecular markers developed from sequence polymorphism between 'Nipponbare' and '93-11' often represent inter-subspecific diversity, although some exceptions were sensitive to either particular marker loci or particular cultivars.     

Primary Sn-rich titianite in the Qitianling granite, Hunan Province, southern China: An important type of tin-bearing mineral and its implications for tin exploration

The Qitianling calc-alkaline granite in Hunan Province (South China) has attracted much attention since the discovery of the Furong super-large tin deposit. The present study provides new mineralogical data to address their implications for exploration of tin deposits. In the Taoxiwo granite in the southeastern part of the Qitianling granite body, Sn-rich titanite was identified as an important type of Sn-bearing mineral. The titanite commonly occurs with biotite as euhedral crystals, exhibiting typical envelope-like shape and sector-zoning texture. These indicate that the titanite most likely crystallized in the magmatic stage. Electron-microprobe analyses show that the titanite is enriched in tin up to 1.12 wt% SnO₂, with an average of 0.43 wt%. With the crystallization of the granite, primary minerals undertook hydrothermal alteration by magma-derived fluids. Subsequently, in the hydrothermal stage, the primary Sn-bearing titanite was altered (at least partially), but still preserved its typical envelope-shaped outline. Micro-scale cassiterite is a representative product of such alteration; other secondary minerals include fluorite, ilmenite, Sn-bearing rutile and quartz. Therefore, the titanite, commonly present in the calcalkaline granites, can be treated as an important Sn-carrying mineral in the Qitianling granite, reflecting the primary magmatic environment with tin enrichment. The hydrothermal alteration of the primary titanite and subsequent crystallization of cassiterite recorded a process of leaching and accumulation of tin in magmatic-hydrothermal evolution of the Sn-bearing granite. Thus, this titanite has important implications for tin exploration. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40730423 and 40221301) and Project of China Geological Survey (Grant No. 1212010632100)     

Variable diffusion boundary layer and diffusion flux at sediment-water interface in response to dynamic forcing over an intertidal mudflat

The diffusion boundary layer (DBL) significantly limits the exchange between sediment and overlying water and therefore becomes a bottleneck of diffusive vertical flux at the sediment-water interface (SWI). Variable DBL thickness and diffusion flux in response to dynamic forcing may influence replenishment of nutrients and secondary pollution in coastal waters. In situ measurements of velocity in the bottom boundary layer (BBL) and oxygen concentration in the DBL were made over an intertidal mudflat, using an acoustic Doppler current and mini profiler. A linear distributed zone in the oxygen profile, the profile slope discontinuity and variance of concentration can be used to derive accurate DBL thickness. Diffusion fluxes calculated from the water column and sediment are identical, and their bias is less than 6%. A numerical model PROFILE is used to simulate the in situ dissolved oxygen profile, and layered dissolved oxygen consumption rates in the sediment are calculated. The DBL thickness (0.10-0.35 mm) and diffusion flux (15.4-53.6 mmol m 2 d 1) vary with a factor of 3.5 during a tidal period. Over an intertidal mudflat, DBL thickness is controlled by flow speed U in the BBL, according to δDBL=1686.1DU 1+0.1 (D is the molecular diffusion coefficient). That is, the DBL thickness δDBL increases with decreasing flow speed U. Changes of diffusion flux at the SWI are caused by variations in the water above the sediment and the turbulent mixing intensity. The diffusion flux is positively related to the turbulent dissipation rate, friction velocity and turbulent energy. Under the influence of dynamics in the BBL, DBL thickness and flux vary significantly.