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The excellent hardness and wear resistance of AlCoCrFeNiMo0.8–TiC composite coating benefit from various strengthening mechanisms, including fine grain strengthening, dislocation strengthening, load transfer strengthening, solid solution strengthening, and precipitation strengthening. To analyze their contributions in the strength and hardness, an accurate prediction model is essential. In this work, a prediction model for the hardness increment was established based on some key elastic constants calculated by the first-principles. Subsequently, the contributions of strengthening mechanisms were quantitatively evaluated by the developed prediction model. It was found that the Young's modulus and shear modulus for B2 phase were 179.65 GPa and 67.36 GPa, respectively, and those of σ phase were 354.08 GPa and 139.19 GPa, respectively. The precipitation strengthening was the predominant mechanism in the composite coating, with a strength contribution of 736.4 MPa and a hardness contribution of 225.2 HV, which accounted for 76.2% of the contribution values. The prediction model has high accuracy, which is evidenced by the small relative error (9.1%) between the total theoretical hardness contribution (295.2 HV) and the Vickers hardness tested by nanoindentation (322.1 HV). The AlCoCrFeNiMo0.8–TiC composite coating has various strengthening mechanisms. To quantitatively analyze these contributions on the hardness, a prediction model is established based on the elastic moduli obtained by the first-principles calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to elucidate the microstructure characteristics of each phase in carbidic austempered ductile iron and the nucleation and growth of acicular ferrite in an austempering temperature range of 250–450 °C. The research results showed that the carbides (Fe, Cr)3C obtained by the eutectic reaction had high indentation hardness and indentation modulus, and the interface between acicular ferrite and eutectic carbides belonged to incoherent boundary. Since the nucleation driving force of acicular ferrite increased with an increase in temperature difference (ΔT), the size of acicular ferrite gradually decreased with the decrease in isothermal temperature. When the austempering temperature was above 400 °C, acicular ferrite preferentially nucleated around the graphite nodules and inside grains. However, acicular ferrite preferentially nucleated around the graphite nodules and the eutectic carbides at temperature below 400 °C. Additionally, a fine twin structure had been found inside some acicular ferrite after austempering at a low temperature (250 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure and oxidation kinetics of Fe-B-based alloys at 927 K in air with different boron concentrations of 0.95, 1.45, 2.10, and 3.08 wt% were studied. The alloy microstructures were interpreted to consist of α-Fe, FeB, and pearlite. After 100-h oxidation, the oxides comprised FeO at the surfaces and a mixed BO-SiO layer at matrix/oxide interface. The formation of mixed oxides layer was affected by boron content in the alloy and had obvious influence on the oxide morphology. The isothermal oxidation kinetics at 973 K exhibited initial rapid mass loss followed by slow mass loss, and the oxidation rate constants of the two oxidation stages demonstrated completely opposite tendencies with the increase of boron. The Fe-B 3.08 wt% alloy exhibited the best oxidation resistance after 100 h of cyclic oxidation due to the formation of a well-distributed and continuous BO-SiO mixed oxide layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influences of the tempering temperature on the microstructure, mechanical property and wear resistance of High-Boron High Speed Steel (HBHSS) roll materials were investigated by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, hardness measurement, impact tester, tensile tester and pin abrasion tester. The results show that the as-cast structure of HBHSS consists of a great amount of martensite and M2(B,C) and a few retained austenites and M23(B,C)6. After solution treated at 1,050 °C and followed by oil cooling, the amount of M23(B,C)6 carbo-borides in quenched HBHSS increases obviously and the macrohardness of the quenched HBHSS is 66 HRC, which is very close to the 65.8 HRC of as-cast HBHSS. On the whole, the hardness of HBHSS alloy shows a trend of slight decrease with increasing tempering temperature when tempered below 500 °C. While when above 500 °C, the hardness increases slightly as the tempering temperature increases and reaches a peak at 525 °C and then decreases obviously. The impact toughness of HBHSS has a tendency to increase as the tempering temperature increases. Tempering can improve the tensile strength and elongation of HBHSS, but a higher tempering temperature causes a slight decrease in both tensile strength and elongation. Excellent wear resistance can be obtained by tempering at 500 to 550 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of silicon alloying and heat treatment on the microstructure and properties of Fe-35Cr-4C-xSi (x = 0.5, 1.2, 19, 2.6) hypereutectic high-chromium cast iron (HHCCI) were explored through first-principles calculations and phase diagram calculations combined with XRD, SEM, TEM and other methods. With the increase of Si content, the matrix structure of HHCCI transforms from martensite to ferrite. The phase diagram analysis reveals that higher silicon content results in elevated austenite transformation initiation temperatures, reduced austenite phase areas, and expanded ferrite phase regions. Additionally, the study calculates the diffusion activation energy of C atoms within silicon-bearing and silicon-free HHCCI matrices, providing valuable insights into the role of silicon in promoting the transformation of the HHCCI matrix into ferrite. Notably, silicon facilitates the diffusion of C atoms into the silicon-bearing HHCCI matrix, thereby preventing complete austenitization. After ultra-high-temperature heat treatment, the matrix structure of high-silicon HHCCI (1.9 wt.% Si) can be transformed from ferrite to martensite. With the increase of Si content, the corrosive wear resistance of HHCCI increases first and then decreases. The 1.9Si HHCCI after ultra-high-temperature heat treatment exhibits the best corrosive wear resistance in both acidic and alkaline corrosive wear environments, and the silicon-bearing HHCCI is more resistant to alkaline corrosive wear. This study reveals promising applications of silicon-bearing HHCCI in industries such as hydraulics and coal mining, particularly as a material for making slurry pumps. Notably, in comparison with previous work by our research group, this study delves deeper into the mechanisms underlying the structural and performance changes of silicon-bearing HHCCI due to heat treatment and silicon content variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zirconium alloy cladding tube and end plug used for nuclear fuel rods are usually joined by pressure resistance welding. And the service performance of the fuel rod cladding is directly influenced by the welded joint. In order to understand the forming process deeply, an axisymmetric electro-thermal–mechanical process finite element model was established in this paper. The current density distribution, temperature field evolution, and joint forming process during pressure resistance welding were all simulated by this model. It was shown that due to the contact resistance, a concentrated heat flow was rapidly generated on the tube-plug contact surface caused by welding current. A heat conduction was established on both sides of the welding surface. The high-temperature region on the side of the cladding tube was larger than the end plug. The metal of the tube extruded to both inside and outside of the joint under the coupled loading of heat and pressure. The location of the highest instant temperature on the welding surface moved from the inside to the outside of the joint. The highest temperature was 1568 °C, not reaching the melting point of zirconium alloy. The joining area and the highest temperature increased with welding current increasing, the welding time had little effect on them. Based on the numerical model, two structural design schemes to improve the joint forming quality were proposed. They were expected to provide a guide line for the joint design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-piercing riveting (SPR) has been used to join similar and dissimilar materials for vehicle body application. In order to understand the failure mechanism and develop a method to estimate the shear strength of SPR similar and dissimilar materials, finite element modeling was conducted in this study. In the modeling, the contact conditions between the rivet and the workpieces were taken into account to establish the failure criteria of SPR of steel and aluminum sheets. It was found that the failure procedure of riveted dissimilar materials was different from that of riveted similar materials. Furthermore, the experiments were conducted to validate the modeling results. It was shown that the shear strength and failure mode of SPR joints were in agreement with the modeling results. These results suggested that the model could be used to estimate the shear strength of SPR joints. The factors influencing the failure mode and shear strength of SPR joints were discussed in detail. For rivet pull-out mode, the rivet open angle at the upper sheet, friction coefficient between the rivet and sheet, and the yield strength of the substrate were the key factors. For sheet tearing mode, failure occurred at the weaker sheet and the shear strengths mainly depended on the sheet gage and strength grade of the weaker sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the element cerium on the microstructure and wear behavior of Fe-B cast alloy was investigated by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis, Leica digital image analysis, hardness tester and abrasion tester. The microstructures of as-cast Fe-B alloy are composed of the phase ferrite, pearlite and eutectic boride. Moreover, the as-cast eutectic boride structures in Fe-B alloy containing cerium are finer than that in the alloy having no cerium. After heat treatment, the average boride area and wear weight loss of the alloy containing cerium are lower than these of the alloy having no cerium. Before the formation of primary austenite, cerium can combine with oxygen to form CeO. CeO can act as nuclei of primary austenite, promoting the refinement of austenite and borides during solidification, and improve the wear property of Fe-B alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Fe-10Cr-1.5B (FCB) alloy after different heat treatments were studied. The results showed that the as-cast microstructure of FCB alloy consists of a-Fe, M(M=Cr, Fe, Mn)2(B, C) and M(M=Cr, Fe, Mn)7(C, B)3 type borocarbides, and small amounts of pearlite and austenite. After oil quenching treatment, metal matrix transformed into the martensite from the mixture of martensite, pearlite and austenite. There are many M(M=Cr,Fe,Mn)23(C,B)6 type borocarbide precipitates in the metal matrix, and eutectic borocarbide appears with an apparent disconnection and isolated phenomenon. When the quenching temperature reaches 1,050 °C, the hardness of FCB alloy is the highest, but the change of quenching temperature has no obvious effect on impact toughness of FCB alloy. After tempering, the eutectic microstructure of FCB alloy appears with a "two links" trend. With the increase of tempering temperature, the hardness of FCB alloy decreases gradually and impact toughness increases gradually. Cast FCB alloy oil-quenched from 1,050 °C and tempered from 200 °C has excellent combined properties; its hardness and impact toughness are 61.5 HRC and 8.8 J•cm-2 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of titanium and nitrogen elements on the microstructures and wear behaviors of medium carbon Fe-B cast alloy. The as-cast microstructures of Fe-B cast alloy consist of the eutectic boride, pearlite, and ferrite. Moreover, the as-cast eutectic boride structures are greatly refined when titanium and nitrogen are added. The boride area fraction, average boride area, Rockwell hardness, etc., are also investigated systemically. The wear behaviors of medium carbon Fe-B cast alloy are studied by a three-body abrasive wear tester. The results show that the wear weight loss of Fe-B cast alloy with titanium and nitrogen elements is lower than that of the ordinary Fe-B cast alloy. Meanwhile, the wear mechanism of Fe-B cast alloy with different titanium and nitrogen concentrations is described and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructures of Fe-B alloys containing different carbon and boron concentrations have been investigated. The solidification microstructures of Fe-B alloy consist of the eutectic boride, pearlite, and ferrite. Borides precipitate along the grain boundary during the formation of eutectic. After heat treatment, the phases in Fe-B alloy are composed of the boride and martensite. With increase of carbon and boron concentrations, the Rockwell hardness of Fe-B alloy becomes larger. Meanwhile, by using a pin-on-disk abrasion tester, the effects of carbon and boron concentrations on the wear behaviors including ploughing depth, roughness, and wear weight loss under different loads have been studied. The results show that the wear resistance of Fe-B alloy with higher carbon and boron concentrations is comparable with the high chromium white cast iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]