Search results

The purpose of this study is to investigate the aesthetic blackening coating formed by a hydrothermal process, focusing on the formation of magnetite and the oxide adhesion for improving the corrosion resistance of the steel.

The aesthetic black coating was applied on AISI 4140 steel using a hydrothermal process with a non-toxic solution consisted of ferrous sulphate hydrate (FeSO4·7H₂O), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrazine hydrate (N2H4·H₂O). Upon process parameters temperature and time, the morphology of the coatings and oxidation kinetics were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Furthermore, the samples with coatings were subjected to the adhesion test using a tensile testing machine equipped with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera.

From the formation parameters due to temperature and time for the conversion coatings, it was found that the oxidation kinetics had special characteristics which were in accordance with a linear rate law and Arrhenius relation. For the samples blackened, the XRD analysis results revealed that the magnetite was successfully formed on the surface of the steel. On the other hand, increasing the blackening temperature worsened the scale adhesion as observed by the lower strain provoking the first spallation and the higher sensitivity of the oxide to spall out with the imposed strain.

The effects of parameters of the formation of conversion coatings were investigated to understand the kinetics of the coatings. Furthermore, a tensile adhesion test using a CCD camera was applied to evaluate the adhesion between the native oxide formed by conversion coating.

The work described in this paper is part of a current programme that has two objects: (1) to investigate further the reasons for the different scaling behaviour of steel in steam and carbon dioxide, although these gases have similar oxygen potentials; (2) to provide background information for an investigation into the effect of variations in re‐heating furnace atmospheres upon scaling and scale adhesion.

TWO nickel‐bearing commercial steels were oxidised in the range 1100°–1250°C for up to 8 hr. in air and CO2. The increase in thickness of the scale and the inner layer with embedded metal particles was followed in detail. A distinction is made between filaments which retain continuity with the base metal and discrete particles. The continuous filaments may be of practical importance in holding the scale to the metal in hot rolling, leading to surface defects on hot‐rolled products.

In recent years, using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, the authors have achieved precisely detecting the structural evolution of passive film as well as its interface zone at atomic scale. The purpose of this paper aims to make a brief review to show the authors’ new understanding and perspective on the issue of critical factors determining stability of passive film of Fe-Cr alloy.

The introduction of single crystal enabled the authors to obtain a distinct metal/passive film interface and better characterize the structure of the interface region. The authors use aberration-corrected TEM to conduct cross-sectional observation and directly capture the details across the entire film at a high spatial and energy resolution.

Apart from the passive film itself, the interface zone, including metal/film (Me/F) interface and the adjacent metal side, is also the site which is attacked. Accordingly, the nature of the interface zone, such as microstructure, composition and atomic configuration, is one of the critical factors determining the stability of passive film.

Deciphering the critical factors determining the stability of passive film is of great significance and has been a fundamental issue in corrosion science. Great attention has been paid to the nature of the passive film itself. In contrast, the possible role of the interface between the passive film and the metal is rarely taken into account. Based on the advanced analytical tool with high spatial resolution, the authors have specified the significant role of interface structures on the macro-scale stability of passive film.

DISCUSSION The chromium coating thicknesses used in this work were comparable to those used commercially, being between 70 and 170 micrometres approximately. Even after oxidation for the temperatures and times stated the chromium concentrations at the metal‐oxide interface were between 20% and 60%. These concentrations fell steadily to approximately 13% over the approximate depth stated above before reducing sharply to zero at what was the ferrite‐austenite transformation boundary during the coating process. This is contrary to the structure observed in aluminized stainless steels where a complex structure is produced due to the existence of intermetallic phases. Hence during all the oxidation experiments performed the chromium level of the surface offered for oxidation was never below 13% and complete oxidative breakdown therefore did not occur, excluding spalling effects. Many workers have shown that the oxidation rate of iron‐chromium alloys initially drops sharply with increasing chromium but eventually reaches a minimum of about 20% chromium and then rises for more chromium rich alloys. From the graph of oxidation rate in pure oxygen against chromium content given by Mortimer et al., from 13% chromium to 100% chromium the oxidation rate increases by approximately 6 × 10−9 g.cm−2 sec.−1 It is reasonable to assume that for a diffusion coating the oxidation behaviour will be markedly affected by the composition at its outer surface layer and much less by the composition gradient. If oxidation was continued for sufficiently long periods the latter could affect the general availability of chromium ions for the oxidation process. Over the first 5?m the average chromium levels were between 63% and 20% for the chromised and chrome‐aluminized respectively. From the figures given by Mortimer et al the oxidation rate of the 63% chromium coating would be expected to be 0.5 × 10−9 g.cm−2 sec−1 greater than the 20% chromium coating on the chrome‐aluminized specimens at 600°C, on the basis of the chromium content alone. The results obtained here vary in this manner, hence it is reasonable to conclude that the general oxidation behaviour of the coatings will be very similar to that of pure iron‐chromium alloys containing the same chromium content as in the outer few micrometres of the respective coatings. Even though the true surface area is greater with diffusion treated specimens their oxidation rates are lower that for the corresponding pure alloys.

This study aims to investigate the effect of changes in iron content in 70/30 copper–nickel alloy on the corrosion process.

70Copper–30Nickel-xFe-1Mn (x = 0.4,0.6,0.8,1.0 Wt.%) alloy were prepared by the high frequency induction melting furnace. The scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to analyze the morphology and component of the corrosion product film.

The results show that the corrosion resistance of 70/30 copper–nickel alloy added with 1.0%Fe is the best, and the film is divided into inner dense Cu2O composite film and outer hydration loose layer; XRD showed that after adding 1.0% Fe, the content of Cu2(OH)3Cl in the corrosion product film was significantly reduced, while the content of Cu2O remained unchanged; XPS showed that nickel accumulates in the inner layer of corrosion product film; the stage growth mode of the film, the role of nickel in it and the enrichment mechanism of iron in the inner film were summarized and discussed.

The changes in the composition and structure of the corrosion product film caused by the iron content are revealed, and the mechanism of the difference in corrosion resistance is discussed.

The results of a study of friction welding of ductile cast iron using stainless steel interlayer are presented. Based on the microstructure evolution at the region close to the ductile cast iron‐stainless steel interface, the phenomena accompanying the process of joining were evaluated. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to take a closer look into metallurgical phenomena accompanying the friction welding of ductile cast iron.

In this paper, ductile cast iron and austenitic‐stainless steel are welded using the friction welding method. The tensile strength of the joints was determined using a conventional tensile test machine. Moreover, the hardness across the interface ductile cast iron‐stainless steel interface was measured on a metallographic specimen. The microstructure of the joints was examined using light metallography as well as electron microscopy. In this case, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied. Energy Dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDS) was carried out across the section of friction welded ductile iron‐stainless steel interface.

On the basis of careful analysis of experimental data it was concluded that the process of friction welding was accompanied with diffusion of Cr, Ni and C atoms across the ductile cast iron‐stainless steel interface. This leads to an increase of carbon concentration in stainless steel where chromium carbides were formed, the size and distribution of which was dependent on the distance from the interface.

The main value of this paper is to contribute to the literature on friction welding of ductile cast iron.

The dissimilar welds between AISI 304L and Fe-15.6Cr-8.5Mn were investigated on oxidation at 700°C with the effects of dissolved nitrogen in the welds. This paper aims to clarify the oxidation behaviors to expand the range of application for Fe-Cr-Mn stainless steel.

Dissimilar welds between AISI 304L and Fe-15.6Cr-8.5Mn were fabricated using gas tungsten arc welding to investigate the oxidation behavior of the welds at 700°C. Pure Ar and Ar-4%N₂ shielding gases were used to evaluate the effects of nitrogen gas. The welds were introduced to the cyclic oxidation test. In each cycle, the furnace was heated up to 700°C, and the temperature was kept at 700°C for 8 h, then the mass gain because of oxidation was examined. The scales after oxidation test were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy with EDX and X-ray diffraction analysis.

Addition of 4 per cent nitrogen to Ar shielding gas reduced delta-ferrite content in the weld. Ar-4%N₂ shielding gas resulted in dissolved nitrogen which helped increase the diffusivities of chromium or oxygen vacancies in the oxide to facilitate the chromia formation at the inner part near the steel substrate. This protective layer can help reduce the Fe outward diffusion, thus reducing mass gain because of iron oxide formation.

The oxidation behavior of dissimilar welds between AISI 304L and Fe-15.6Cr-8.5Mn were investigated at 700°C. The evaluation is beneficial for expanding the range of application of Fe-Cr-Mn stainless steel at high temperature.

This paper aims to study the mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement in 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel, which will help to provide valuable information for the subsequent hydrogen embrittlement research of this kind of steel, so as to optimize the processing technology and take more appropriate measures to prevent hydrogen damage.

The hydrogen diffusion coefficient of 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel was measured by the hydrogen permeation technique of double electrolytic cells. Moreover, the influence of hydrogen traps in the material and experimental temperature on hydrogen diffusion behavior was discussed. The first-principles calculations based on density functional theory were used to study the occupancy of H atoms in the bcc-Fe cell, the diffusion path and the interaction with vacancy defects.

The results revealed that the logarithm of the hydrogen diffusion coefficient of the material has a linear relationship with the reciprocal of temperature and the activation energy of hydrogen atom diffusion in 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel is 23.47 kJ/mol. H atoms stably exist in the nearly octahedral interstices in the crystal cell with vacancies. In addition, the solution of Cr/Mo alloy atom does not change the lowest energy path of H atom, but increases the diffusion activation energy of hydrogen atom, thus hindering the diffusion of hydrogen atom. Cr/Mo and vacancy have a synergistic effect on inhibiting the diffusion of H atoms in α-Fe.

This article combines experiments with first-principles calculations to explore the diffusion behavior of hydrogen in 12Cr2Mo1R(H) steel from the macroscopic and microscopic perspectives, which will help to establish a calculation model with complex defects in the future.

The Equal Pay Act 1970 (which came into operation on 29 December 1975) provides for an “equality clause” to be written into all contracts of employment. S.1(2) (a) of the 1970 Act (which has been amended by the Sex Discrimination Act 1975) provides: