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%.     

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.     

Effect of particle size distribution on the microstructure,texture,and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy

The effect of particle size distribution on the microstructure,texture,and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy was investigated on the basis of the mechanical properties,microstructure,and texture of the alloy.The results show that the particle size distribution influences the microstructure and the final mechanical properties but only slightly influences the recrystallization texture.After the pre-aging treatment and natural aging treatment(T4 P treatment),in contrast to the sheet with a uniform particle size distribution,the sheet with a bimodal particle size distribution of large constituent particles and small dispersoids exhibits higher strength and a somewhat lower plastic strain ratio(r) and strain hardening exponent(n).After solution treatment,the sheet with a bimodal particle size distribution of large constituent particles and small dispersoids possesses a finer and slightly elongated grain structure compared with the sheet with a uniform particle size distribution.Additionally,they possess almost identical weak recrystallization textures,and their textures are dominated by CubeND {001}310 and P {011}122 orientations.     

Experimental investigation and thermodynamic assessment of the yttriumhydrogen binary system

A coupled experimental investigation and thermodynamic study of the yttrium-hydrogen(Y-H) binary system were carried out to provide more comprehensive and quantitative insights into the key thermodynamic properties of this system. Y-H system in the full range of H/Y = 0–3.0 was investigated by accurate pressure composition isotherm(PCI) measurement to provide credible phase equilibria information and thermodynamic data.The phase boundaries obtained were in agreement with previous experimental data but with improved accuracy.With the guide of the crystal structures, all the solid phases were modelled using the three sublattice model. The Y-H phase diagram and thermodynamic parameters were calculated and assessed with the CALPHAD technique.The obtained results are in very good agreement with our experimental data and the published data reported in literature. The obtained thermodynamic database of Y-H system can be used to predict the hydrogenation behavior and decomposition temperatures of hydrides.