Tunable magnetocaloric effect in amorphous Gd-Fe-Co-Al-Si alloys

A magnetocaloric effect with wide tunability was observed in melt-spun amorphous Gd65Fe15-xCo5+xAl10Si5 (x = 0, 5, 10) alloys of different Fe/Co ratios. Their magnetic properties were compared with those of the previously investigated parent alloy Gd65Fe10Co10Al15. The glassy structure of the melt-spun samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. Their Curie temperatures (TC) were between 155 and 195 K and increased significantly with decreasing Co content. The highest value of the magnetic entropy change ΔSM = − 6.8 J/kg K was obtained for Gd65Fe5Co15Al10Si5, when the magnetic field was increased from 0 to 5 T. Refrigerant capacity (RC) takes values close to 700 J/kg for the whole series of the alloys. The occurrence of the second-order phase transition and the conformity of the magnetic behavior with the mean field model were concluded on the basis of the analysis of the universal curves and the values of the exponent n (ΔSM ∝ Hn). Graphical abstract

Grain characteristics, electrical conductivity, and hardness of Zn-doped Cu–3Si alloys system

The grain characteristics, electrical conductivity, hardness, and bulk density of Cu–3Si–(0.1—1 wt%)Zn alloys system fabricated by gravity casting technique were investigated experimentally using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The study established the optimal alloy composition and the significance of zinc addition on the tested properties using response surface optimal design (RSOD). The cooled alloy samples underwent normalizing heat treatment at 900 °C for 0.5 h. The average grains size and grains distribution were analyzed using the linear intercept method (ImageJ). The microstructure examination revealed a change in grain characteristics (morphology and size) of the parent alloy by addition of 0.1 wt% zinc. The average grains size of the parent alloy decreased from 12 µm to 7.0 µm after 0.1 wt% zinc addition. This change in grain characteristics led to an increase in the hardness of the parent alloy by 42.2%, after adding 0.1 wt% zinc. The electrical conductivity of the parent alloy decreased from 46.3%IACS to 45.3%IACS, while the density was increased by 8.4% after adding 0.1 wt% zinc. The statistical data confirmed the significance of the change in properties. The result of optimization revealed Cu–3Si–0.233Zn as the optimal alloy composition with optimal properties. The Cu–3Si–xZn alloy demonstrated excellent properties suitable for the fabrication of electrical and automobile components.

Unconventional critical behaviour in weak ferromagnets Fe2-xMnxCrAl (0 ≤ x < 1)

Recent investigation on weak ferromagnets Fe2-xMnxCrAl (0 ≤ x < 1) reveal the existence of a cluster glass phase (CGP) and a Griffiths-like phase (GP) below and above the ferromagnetic transition temperature (TC), respectively [(2019) Sci. Rep.9 15888]. In this work, the influence of these inhomogeneous phases on the critical behaviour (around TC) of the above-mentioned series of alloys has been investigated in detail. For the parent alloy Fe2CrAl, the critical exponent γ is estimated as ~ 1.34, which lies near to the ordered 3D Heisenberg class, whereas the obtained value of the critical exponent β ~ 0.273 does not belong to any universality class. With increment in Mn concentration, both exponents γ and β increase, where γ and β approach the disordered and ordered 3D Heisenberg class, respectively. The observed deviation of γ and unconventional value of δ can be ascribed to the increment of GP with Mn-concentration. The trend noted for β can be attributed to the increment in CGP regime with an increase in Mn-content. The estimated critical exponents are consistent and reliable as corroborated using the scaling law and equations of state. Our studies indicate that the critical phenomenon of Fe2-xMnxCrAl (0 ≤ x < 1) alloys possibly belong to a separate class, which is not described within the framework of any existing universal model.

Research on the Mechanism and Microstructure of an Al-Ti-C Parent Alloy Prepared Using the Villiaumite–Woodchip Method

X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to study the microstructure and properties of an Al-Ti-C parent alloy prepared using the villiaumite–woodchip method. The synthesis process of the Al-Ti-C parent alloy prepared using the villiaumite–woodchip method and aluminum liquid had the following stages: The first stage was the formation of titanium aluminum by titanium being displaced from the reaction between aluminum and villiaumite. The second stage was the dehydration and carbonization reactions of the woodchips at high temperatures. The third stage involved titanium aluminum, carbon aluminum, and titanium carbon compounds constitute the Al-Ti-C parent alloy with a refined effect water and carbon dioxide, which were the cracking products of the woodchips, reacted with aluminum to produce alumina and hydrogen, which accumulated in the grain boundary in the form of slag-gas pockets.

Fabrication and mechanical properties of three-dimensional enhanced lattice truss sandwich structures

Topological-reinforcement and material-strengthening were used and employed to improve the mechanical properties of lattice truss sandwich structures. This new type of three-dimensional aluminum alloy lattice truss (named enhanced lattice truss) sandwich structure, with a relative density ranging from 1.7% to 4.7%, was designed and fabricated by interlocking and vacuum-brazing method. The out-of-plane compression and shear properties of the enhanced lattice truss sandwich structures (both as-brazed and age-hardened cores) were experimentally and analytically investigated. Good correlations between analytical predictions and experiment results were achieved. Experimental results showed that the mechanical properties of the enhanced lattice truss cores were sensitive to the unit-cell size and parent-alloy properties (i.e. inelastic buckling and tangential modulus). The compressive and shear characteristics of enhanced lattice truss sandwich structures were discussed and found superior to competing lattice truss structures in low density area (0.046–0.124 g/cm3) of material property charts. The combination of topological-reinforcement and material-strengthening provided a way to achieve lightweight sandwich structures with high specific strengths and low densities.

Homogenized modeling and micromechanics analysis of thin-walled lattice plate structures for brake discs

Periodic cellular structures, especially lattice designs, have potential to improve the cooling performance of brake disk system. In this paper, the method of two scales asymptotic homogenization was used to indicate the effective elastic stiffnesses of lattice plates structures. The arbitrary topology of lattice core cells connected to the back and front plates which are made of generally orthotropic materials, due to use in brake disc design. This starts with the derivation of general shell model with consideration of the set of unit cell problems and then making use of the model to determine the analytical equations and calculate the effective elastic properties of lattice plate concerning the connected back and front plates. The analytical and numerical method allows determining the stiffness properties and the internal forces in the trusses and plates of the lattice. Three types of core-based lattice plates, which are pyramidal, X-type and I-type lattices, have been studied. The I-type lattice is characterized here for the first time with particular attention on the role that the cell trusses and plates plays on the stiffness and strength properties. The lattice designs are finite element characterized and compared with the numerical and experimentally validated pyramidal and X-type lattices under identical conditions. The I-type lattice provides 4% higher strength more than the other lattice types with 9% higher truss fraction coefficient. Results show that the stiffness and yield strength of the lattices depend upon the stress–strain response of the parent alloy of trusses and plates, the truss mass fraction coefficient, the face carriers thickness and the core elements parameters. The study described here is limited to a linear analysis of lattice properties. Geometric nonlinearities, however, have a considerable impact on the effective behavior of a lattice and will be the subject of future studies.

Transient Liquid Diffusion Bonding of AISI304 Stainless Steel with a Nickel Base Interlayer

AISI304 stainless steel was bonded by a nickel base interlayer, using a TLP bonding method at 1150 °C with different holding times. The microstructure of the joint region was studied by optical and scanning electron microscopes. The results showed that 20 minutes holding time is sufficient for complete isothermal solidification. At the bonding times of 4, 10, 15 minutes, a eutectic structure was formed at the joint region. The distribution of alloying elements within the joint region and diffusion affected zone were detected using EDS. The results showed that the eutectic microstructure consists of Fe and Cr borides and the isothermal solidified zone consists of solid solution of Fe and Ni at the bonding temperature. Samples with complete isothermal solidified joint were homogenized at 950°C for different times from 30 to 360 minutes to study the distribution of alloying elements between joint region and parent alloy. The results showed more uniform distribution of alloying elements with increasing the homogenization time due to the diffusion of alloying elements between the joint region and the parent alloys. Microhardness and shear strength of joined samples were measured and compared to that of the parent alloy at the same heat treatment condition. The joint shear strength of TLP bonded samples was about 82% that of the parent alloy at the homogenization time of 180 minutes.

Laser Cladding of In Situ Al-AlN Composite on Light Alloys Substrate

In situ metal matrix composites are novel composites in which the reinforcement is formed within the parent alloy by controlling chemical reactions during the composite fabrication. In recent years, there have been attempts to produce AlN composites utilizing the reactions between molten Al and a reactive gas. However, the conventional processing methods are sub-optimal and result in porosity, interface matrix-reinforcement deterioration, and high processing costs. The aim of this research is to develop a methodology to manufacture good-quality in situ Al-AlN composites in a cost effective way. In situ Al-AlN composite was synthesized with a laser cladding equipment. This composite powder can be directly deposited as coating on aluminum alloys conventionally used in the transport sector. The increase in the coatings tribological properties was demonstrated.

XPS Analysis of Oxide Films on Lead-Free Solders with Trace Additions of Germanium and Gallium

A sessile drop experiment involving slow heating and cooling of lead-free solder alloys under inert gas revealed segregation of trace elements to the sample surface. Addition of germanium or gallium to Sn-0.7Cu-0.05Ni alloys promoted a metallic lustre in samples, in contrast with the blue/purple colour of the parent alloy. Alloys with Ge or Ga additions showed oxidation resistance. Depth profiling of surfaces of sample alloys with Ge or Ga showed a significant concentration of these elements within the oxide film, which may be responsible for oxidation resistance of these alloys.

Study on Mechanical and Wear Characteristics of In-Situ Processed ZrB2/Aluminum Alloy Composites Processed by Salt-Melt Reaction

In the present work, ZrB2/Al alloy composites were processed through the salt-melt reaction technique. Aluminum alloy (LM4) was taken as a matrix material. The ZrB2 reinforcement particles were formed in-situ by the reaction of precursor salts K2ZrF6 and KBF4 within the aluminum melt. Relative to the parent alloy, the hardness of the composites reinforced with 2.5, 5 and 7.5 wt.% ZrB2 showed an increase of 8.24%, 17.64% and 33.77%, respectively. The tensile strength also improved initially but decreased when the amount of reinforcement exceeded 5-wt.%. The elongation varied in the same fashion as the tensile strength. The microstructure of the composites showed moderately uniform distribution of particles. However, agglomeration of reinforcement particles became a problem at the highest amount of reinforcement. Wear experiments to determine the influence of load, sliding velocity, sliding distance and the amount of reinforcement on the wear rate of composites were designed in accordance with the Taguchi model. The results revealed that both load and sliding velocity have the highest influence.