Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

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plasma-sprayed silicon layers have been used to produce silicon nitride layers with fibrous microstructure which optimizes fracture toughness and strength. SEM examination of the specimens shows that the surface is covered by fine needles and whiskers of Si3N4.In order to study the oxygen contamination effect as well as other contaminants introduced during spraying and nitridation processes, surface sensitive analysis techniques like AES and XPS have been used to determine concentration of these contaminants.

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Ultrafine hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders with crystallite size in the range of 10-90 nm were synthesized by chemical precipitation process using Ca(OH)2 and H3PO4 solutions as starting materials. Molar ratio of Ca/P=1.68 was kept constant throughout the process and alkaline condition for the reaction was maintained using ammonium hydroxide. The role of raw material concentration on HAp crystallite size and morphology were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The results revealed that variations in crystallite size and morphology of synthesized HAp are strongly affected by the concentration of acid solution. To study the sintering behavior of HAp particles, the powders were pressed at 200 MPa using a uniaxial press. Sintering experiments were carried out at temperatures of 1100, 1250 and 1300°C with various soaking times at maximum temperatures. XRD was also used in determining thephases present after sintering process. The results indicated the decomposition of HAp into a-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and b-TCP phases at 1300°C. The microstructure of the sintered HAp ceramics was characterized by SEM.

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Partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) has been proven to be an excellent candidate as a thermal barrier coating (TBe) for hot sections in, for instance, heat or internal combustion engines and gas turbine parts. The main functions of these coatings are reducing heat losses, reducing fuel consumption, increasing efficiency, and extending durability and life. One of the main problems involved is wear behavior in the development of such coatings for these applications. Using the air plasma spraying (APS) technique, conventional and nanostructured 8 wt % yttria partially stabilized zirconia (Y-PSZ) coatings were deposited on austenitic stainless steel (AISI304) disc-shaped substrates. The coated substrates were subjected to pin-on-disc wear tests, using 10 mm silicon nitride and zirconia balls as the pin. The coefficient of friction was recorded in real time. The weight loss of coated substrates was measured. Coatings were characterized before and after being subjected to wear testing by various techniques including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Effects of various experimental parameters such as wear distance, test temperature, and counter face material were also investigated. Results obtained revealed that, regardless of experimental conditions applied, the nanostructured zirconia coating shows better wear and tribological properties than that of the conventional one.

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Wear of various basic refractory materials to substitute to currently used magnesia chrome bricks has been studied, measuring matte and slag penetration and dissolution, through different cup and rotary slag tests. High magnesia with and without impregnation, magnesia graphite, magnesia-alumina spinel with and without impregnation, olivine-magnesia and olivine magnesia- graphite bricks, as well as magnesia-graphite and olivine magnesia castables, have been tested. It has been shown that carbon impregnation and graphite introduction into basic refractories are feasible ways to enhance their corrosion-dissolution and penetration resistance against fayalite as well as calcium-ferrite slags. Olivine-based refractories (castables or bricks) may be considered as viable candidates to use in copper-making furnaces. At this point, evaluation of the thermo-mechanical properties of this new class of materials is still missing.

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In this research the influence of Ti contents on the amounts of inclusions formation and mechanical properties of a high alloy high strength steel, C300, has been investigated. For this purpose several bars were casted under the same solidification conditions, but different amounts of Ti element. All the seven casted bars were homogenized at 1200°C for a period of 2 hours. Then, they were immediately hot rolled after homogenization so that the out rolling temperature was kept in the range of 1000-1200° C. The specimens were then solution annealed at 820°C for hour and finally they were aged for a period of 3 hours at 500°C. The samples were subjected to tensile, impact and hardness tests in order to relate the variation in volume percent of inclusions due to different amount of Ti, to mechanical properties. The results showed that by increasing the amount of Ti a serious decline in toughness properties of the alloy due to increase in inclusion population occurred. So this research provides a very useful information about the relation between volume fraction of inclusions and mechanical properties of a C300 high strength steel.

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In this study the hot deformation behaviour of a precipitation hardened (PH) stainless steel at high strain rates has been predicted through hot compression testing. Stress-strain curves were obtained for a range of strain rates from 10-3 to 10+1 S-1 and temperatures from 850 to 1150°C. Results obtained by microstructure and stress-strain curves show that at low temperatures and high strain rates, where the Zener-Holman parameter (Z) is high, work hardening and dynamic recovery occure. By increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate, the Z parameter is decreased, so that dynamic recrystallization is the dominant softening mechanism. The results were fitted using a Log Z versus Log (sinh (a sp) diagram allowing an assessment of the behavior of the stresses measured at strain rates closer to those related to the industrial hot rolling schedules. It is clearly shown that the data collected from low strain rate testing can be fairly reasonably extrapolated to higher orders of magnitude of strain rate.

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In this study, commercially pure titanium/304L stainless steel explosion bonded clads have been annealed under argon atmosphere over the temperature range of 700-900°C for 1h.Microstructure of the clads have been investigated before and after anealing. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the annealing products in the form of intermetallic phases were gradually formed at the interface of the annealed clads. It was also found that, the bonding zone width increased with temperature according to an Arrhenius type equation. On the base of this equation, the activation energy of bonding zone growth was found equal to about 66.5 kJ/mol. The bond strength of the diffusion annealed clads were evaluated stress relieved. The maximum average tensile strength of ~350MPa was obtained for the as-welded clad. It was found that the bond strength decreased with annealing at 700°C due to an increase in the width of brittle intermetallic layer.

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TRIP (TRansformation- lnduced- Plasticity) behavior is a powerful mechanism to improve mechanical properties. The basis of TRIP phenomena is the transformation of retained austenite with optimum characteristics (volume fraction, stability, size and morphology) to martensite during deformation at room temperature. Accordingly, the first requirement to obtain desired TRIP effects is to produce an appropriate microstructure. Thermo mechanical processing is an effective method to control the microstructural evolution thereby mechanical properties in TRIP steels. This work deals with a TRIP steel containing 0.2% C, evaluating the effects of straining before and during ?®a atransformation on its final characteristics, using hot compression tests. The results revealed that straining in the two phase region (dynamic transformation) not only reduces the ferrite grain size more significantly, but also increases the retained austenite volumefraction. Accordingly the final mechanical properties were also improved.

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In the present study a Finite Difference Method has been developed to model the transient incompressible turbulent free surface fluid flow. A single fluid has been selected for modeling of mold filling and The SOLA VOF 3D technique was modified to increase the accuracy of simulation of filling phenomena for shape castings. For modeling the turbulence phenomena k-e standard model was used. In order to achieve an accurate model, solving domain was discrete to three regions includes: laminar sub layer, boundary layer and internal region. This model was applied to experimental models such as a driven cavity, Campbell benchmark [1] and top filled cavity. The results show that the suggested model yield favorable predictions of turbulence flow and have a good consistency in comparing with experimental results.

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Although the flash smelting technologies use different furnace designs, the refractory linings are exposed to very similar aggressive environments and, as a result, the corrosion analysis results on one type of furnace could be generally applied to other furnaces of similar high temperature processes. Particularities regarding the different chemistries of the pyrometallurgical process and operating parameters of these furnaces could also bring particular aspects to be considered when analyzing the refractory ware and final failure in use. This paper presents a review of the existent experimental. data of corrosion analyses on refractory linings used in two particular flash furnaces for zinc-lead and respectively nickel-copper smelting. Although various modern water cooling systems are generally used to protect the refractory wall linings against corrosion by molten slag and matte, the performance of the refractory roof lining, usually used without water cooling, represents a permanent concern and the object of research studies to extend their life in service. The failure mechanisms analysed in this study are based on postmortem analyses and laboratory corrosion experiments with magnesite-chrome bricks of different chemical and mineralogical compositions. The gaseous atmosphere, usually rich in SO2 and/or CO and various metal fumes, produces irreversible microstructural changes which could shorten the life in service of the refractory lining. The experimental data proved that thermal cycling in SO2/SO3 atmospheres could bring more damage than a continuous use at relatively constant temperature, due to the magnesium and calcium sulphate formation. The laboratory experiments and postmortem analyses showed that that metal fumes at various partial pressure of oxygen would condense as oxides and react inside the pores and at the grain boundaries, contributing to the continuous deterioration of the ceramic matrix of the refractory brick lining. The mechanisms of corrosion, discussed based on laboratory experiments, were confirmed by the postmortem analyses on brick samples used in the industrial flash smelting furnaces.

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Abstract: Static recrystallization (SRX) behavior of a composite based 7075 Aluminum alloy reinforced with SiC particles was studied during annealing the deformed samples at high temperatures. The results showed an absence of SRX in the samples annealed after hot working at the same deformation temperature, however, a rise in annealing temperature of 100-1500 􀁱C above that the deformation temperature led to full recrystallization. This can be ascribed to the relatively moderate dynamic recovery and the presence of dispersions which stabilize the substructure. Particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) had a significant effect on the grain size in deformed samples at low temperature, but no PSN was observed in samples strained at high temperatures. The possible cause might be that at high temperature the dislocations can be annihilated by climb process around the particles together with the absence of deformation zone for nucleating the recrystallization.

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Abstract: Ball mills are used in the last stage of ore processing for grinding raw materials. Forged 70Cr2 alloy steel and Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) balls are materials from which grinding balls are made for Sarcheshmeh Copper Plant (SCP) ball mills. In the present study wear and impact properties of these two kinds of balls have been investigated. Some balls randomly were selected as samples. They were cut to investigate the cross section under optical and scanning electron microscopes. The microstructure of the sample balls was studied and quantitative measurements of microstructural features were performed. The hardness of different parts of cross sections of balls was measured. The wear resistance of the balls was measured by Pin on Disc method. Repeated dropt test was employed to evaluate impact resistance of the balls. The microstructure of ADI balls consisted of bianitic matrix with graphite nodules and some retained austenite and martensite. Micro cracks and porosities in the cast structure were frequently observed. In the case of forged steel balls the microstructure composed of tempered martensite in outer area and bianitic structure with some tempered martensite in central areas. The wear and impact resistance of forged steel balls were markedly higher than those of ADI balls. The difference was consistent with the differences between the microstructures of the two kinds of balls. Cast structure with microcracks and shrinkage porosities in ADI balls gives rise to lower impact resistance.

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Abstract: Problems such as the difficulty of the selection of processing parameters and the large quantity of experimental work exist in the morphological evolutions of Semisolid Metal (SSM) processing. In order to deal with these existing problems, and to identify the effect of the processing parameters, (i.e. shearing rate-time-temperature) combinations on particle size and shape factor, based on experimental investigation, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was applied to predict particle size and shape factor SSM processed Aluminum A.356.0 alloy. The results clearly demonstrated that, the ANN with 2 hidden layers and topology (4, 2) can predict the shape factor and the particle size with high accuracy of 94%.The sensivity analysis also revealed that shear rate and solid fraction had the largest effect on shape factor and particle size, respectively. The shear rate had a reverse effect on particle size.

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Abstract: Nanocrystalline MgAl2O4 spinel powder was synthesized using metal nitrates and a polymer matrix-based composed of sucrose and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The precursor and the calcined powders were characterized by simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to XRD results, the inceptive formation temperature of spinel via this technique was between 600°C and 700°C. The average crystallite size of calcined powder at 800°C for 2h was in the range of 8-12nm. In addition, SEM micrograph showed that the synthesized powder had a spherical morphology.

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Abstract: The performance of an Imidazoline based commercial corrosion inhibitor in CO2 corrosion of a gas-well tubing steel was studied by employing Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Inhibitor performance was investigated by means of its efficiency at various concentration and also its behavior at various exposure time. EIS results showed that inhibitor interaction to the electrode surface obeys Lungmuir adsorption isotherm. Interpretation of some parameters such as Rct, Rpf, Cdl, and Cpf associated to the equivalent circuit fitted to the experimental rsults showed that not only inhibitor efficiency and surface coverage improve by increasing in inhibitor concentration in the solution but also at constant inhibitor concentration both surface coverage and efficiency improve with exposure time and reach to their highest value after 4 hours.

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Abstract: The effect of phase development on peel strength of alumina-copper metalized joint has been investigated. The alumina-copper joint was prepared in three stages. The alumina substrate was, first, metalized at 1500°C in H2-furnace by a new formulation. In the second step, a nickel layer was electroplated on the metalized layer with approximately 10µm thickness. Finally, copper strips were bonded to metalized alumina with Ag-Cu (72-28) filler metal. The peel strength of the joint was 9.5±0.5 Kg/cm which shows approximately 30% increase in comparison to previous works. By study of fracture surface and crack propagation path, it has been concluded that this increase is due to the formation of more spinel phase.

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Abstract: In this paper, kinetics of reductive leaching of manganese dioxide ore by ferrous ion in sulfuric acid media has been examined. Experimental results show that increasing temperature from 20 to 60 °C and decreasing ore particle size from −16+20 to −60+100 mesh considerably enhance both the dissolution rate and efficiency. Molar ratios of Fe2+/MnO2 and H2SO4/MnO2 in excess to the stoichiometric amounts were needed for successful manganese dissolution. Under the optimum condition (ore particle size of −60+100 mesh, Fe2+/MnO2 molar ratio of 3.0, H2SO4/MnO2 molar ratio of 2.0) manganese could be extracted with over 95% efficiency by 20 minutes leaching at room temperature. A kinetic analysis based on dimensionless time method showed that shrinking core – ash diffusion control model fits the experimental results reasonably well. Value of activation energy was found to be 28.1 kJ/mole for the proposed mechanism.

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Abstract: The specific rate of breakage is one of the most important factors in evaluation of grinding process especially in ball mill. In this article the effect of ball size and feed size on selection function were investigated using batch grinding circuit on two-iron ore anomaly (B, C) from sangan mine in north of Iran. Eight different monosize fractions were prepared between 2000 and 500 microns, using a 2 sieve series. The specific rates of breakage (Si) were determined from the size distributions at different grinding times, and the specific rates of breakage were compared for three different ball diameters (25.4, 16.6 and 9.6 mm). The results showed that the breakage function of both anomalies is normalizable (independent to the particle size) and it is independent to the ball size. But the specific rate of breakage variate with feed size and ball size. Also optimum size of balls for grinding of this feed obtained to be between 9.6-16.6mm.

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Abstract: In the present investigation, the effects of thermomechanical processing parameters and the steel chemical composition on the ultra fine ferrite formation characteristics were studied. This was programmed relying on the capabilities of strain induced transformation (SIT) phenomenon and applying to different grades of Si-Mn TRIP (Transformation Induced Plasticity) steels. Accordingly, wedge shaped specimens were rolled at two different temperatures, above and below the austenite-to-ferrite transformation temperature (Ar3). An ultra fine ferrite grain size, in the scale of some hundred nanometers, was obtained by rolling the specimens with lower Si content at a temperature below the related Ar3 temperature. The amount of reduction, which was resulted in the latter microstructure, was realized to be about 55%.

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Abstract: In chloride salt solutions, titanium alloys exhibit reasonably high pitting potentials as high as +10 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) at room temperatures. On the other hand, anodic pitting potentials are significantly lower in bromide solutions. In this study, pitting corrosion of commercially pure titanium in aqueous NaBr solution of 0.1 M concentration at room temperature was studied and the effect of an external magnetic field oriented both parallel and perpendicular to electrode surface was investigated. Cyclic potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization tests were carried out. Anodic breakdown potential of +1.45 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) obtained in the absence of magnetic field, decreasing to +1.11 V in the presence of a 0.05 T parallel magnetic field. The perpendicular magnetic field actually did not affect the breakdown potential. Applying of an external magnetic field, independent of its orientation, shifted the repassivation potential approximately 150 mV in the positive direction. SEM microscopy observations of sample surfaces indicated that applying of magnetic field results in some variations in the pit shapes and their sizes.