Enhanced fatigue property by fabricating a gradient nanostructured surface layer in a reduced-activation steel

Reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels have been selected as candidate structural materials for future advanced nuclear power systems. In the present work, the influence of a gradient nanograined surface layer on the fatigue properties of RAFM steels was studied. A gradient nanostructured (GNS) surface layer with a thickness of ～85 ?μm was prepared on RAFM steel utilizing surface mechanical rolling treatment (SMRT). The mean grain size was approximate 43 ?nm at the topmost surface and increased gradually with depth. The results of the stress-controlled tension-compression fatigue experiments showed that the fatigue life enhanced approximately 6 times in the SMRT samples compared to the corresponding base metal counterparts. The relationship between the applied stress amplitude and the fatigue lifetime, and the fracture morphology showed that the surface strengthening and strain delocalization were caused by GNS, which suppressed surface crack initiation process, and hence the fatigue properties of RAFM steels improved. In addition, the deformation compatibility in GNS and coarse-grained boundaries leading to more dislocation interactions and accumulation during the cyclic process, also plays a crucial role in enhancing the fatigue properties of RAFM steel.     

Esterified cellulose nanocrystals for reinforced epoxy nanocomposites

The surface of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was successfully modified with methacryloyl chloride to create esterified CNCs (M/CNCs). The modification was confirmed by Fourier Transfer Infra-Red Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Zeta potential measurement. With increased surface hydrophobicity, this modified CNC material exhibited improved compatibility with organic network. When used as a filler to be incorporated into a model epoxy resin, TEM results indicated that M/CNCs particles dispersed well in the epoxy network. It was observed that the inclusion of the M/CNCs had an impact upon the heat flow for the curing of the epoxy nanocomposite, leading to an improvement in the storage modulus when tested via dynamic mechanical analysis.