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In the last decades, damaging micromechanisms in ductile cast irons (DCIs) have been widely investigated, considering both the matrix microstructure and the loading conditions influence. Considering the graphite nodules, they were initially considered as voids embedded and growing in a ductile metal matrix (especially considering ferritic ductile cast irons). Recent experimental results allowed to identify a more complex role played by the graphite nodules, depending on the matrix microstructure. In this work, damaging micromechanisms in a pearlitic DCI were investigated by means of tensile tests performed on notched specimen, mainly focusing the role played by graphite elements and considering the stress triaxiality influence.

In recent years, mechanical property of many SMA has improved in order to introduce these alloys in specific field of industry. Main examples of these alloys are the NiTi, Cu-Zn-Al and Cu-Al-Ni which are used in many fields of engineering such as aerospace or mechanical systems. Cu-Zn-Al alloys are characterized by good shape memory properties due to a bcc disordered structure stable at high temperature called β-phase, which is able to change by means of a reversible transition to a B2 structure after appropriate cooling, and reversible transition from B2 secondary to DO3 order, under other types of cooling. In β-Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys, the martensitic transformation is not in equilibrium at room temperature. It is therefore often necessary to obtain the martensitic structure, using a thermal treatment at high temperature followed by quenching. The martensitic phases can be either thermally-induced spontaneous transformation, or stressinduced, or cooling, or stressing the β- phase. Direct quenching from high temperatures to the martensite phase is the most effective because of the non-diffusive character of the transformation. The martensite inherits the atomic order from the β-phase. Precipitation of many kinds of intermetallic phases is the main problem of treatment on cu-based shape memory alloy. For instance, a precipitation of α-phase occurs in many low aluminum copper based SMA alloy and presence of α-phase implies a strong degradation of shape recovery. However, Cu-Zn-Al SMA alloys characterized by aluminum contents less than 5% cover a good cold machining and cost is lower than traditional NiTi SMA alloys. In order to improve the SMA performance, it is always necessary to identify the microstructural changing in mechanical and thermal conditions, using X-Ray analyses. In this work a Cu-Zn-Al SMA alloy obtained in laboratory has been microstructurally and metallographically characterized by means of X-Ray diffraction and Light Optical Microscope (LOM) observations. Furthermore a fatigue crack propagation and fracture surface scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations have been performed in order to evaluate the crack path and the main crack micromechanisms.

The analysis of the damaging micromechanisms in Ductile Cast Irons is often focused on ferritic matrix. Up to ten years ago, for this grades of DCIs, the main damaging micromechanism was identified with the graphite elements – ferritic matrix debonding. More recent experimental results showed the presence of an internal gradient of mechanical properties in the graphite elements and the importance of other damaging micromechanisms, with a negligible importance of the graphite elements – ferritic matrix debonding mechanism. In this work, damaging micromechanisms development in a ferritic – pearlitic DCI have been investigated by means of tensile tests performed on mini-tensile specimens and observing the specimens lateral surfaces by means of a scanning electro microscope (SEM) during the tests (“in-situ” tests). Experimental results have been compared with the damaging micromechanisms observed in fully ferritic and fully pearlitic DCIs.

In this paper an automatic procedure based on a machine learning approach is proposed to classify ductile cast iron specimens according to the American Society for Testing and Materials guidelines. The mechanical properties of a specimen are strongly influenced by the peculiar morphology of their graphite elements and useful characteristics, the features, are extracted from the specimens’ images; these characteristics examine the shape, the distribution and the size of the graphite particle in the specimen, the nodularity and the nodule count. The principal components analysis are used to provide a more efficient representation of these data. Support vector machines are trained to obtain a classification of the data by yielding sequential binary classification steps. Numerical analysis is performed on a significant number of images providing robust results, also in presence of dust, scratches and measurement noise.

Ductile irons mechanical properties are strongly influenced by the metal matrix microstructure and on the graphite elements morphology. Depending on the chemical composition, the manufacturing process and the heat treatments, these graphite elements can be characterized by different shape, size and distribution. These geometrical features are usually evaluated by the experts visual inspection, and some commercial softwares are also available to assist this activity. In this work, an automatic procedure based on an image segmentation technique is applied: this procedure is validated not only considering spheroidal graphite elements, but also considering other morphologies (e.g. lamellae).

Ductile cast irons (DCIs) are characterized by a wide range of mechanical properties, mainly depending on microstructural factors, as matrix microstructure (characterized by phases volume fraction, grains size and grain distribution), graphite nodules (characterized by size, shape, density and distribution) and defects presence (e.g., porosity, inclusions, etc.). Versatility and higher performances at lower cost if compared to steels with analogous performances are the main DCIs advantages. In the last years, the role played by graphite nodules was deeply investigated by means of tensile and fatigue tests, performing scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of specimens lateral surfaces during the tests (“in situ” tests) and identifying different damaging micromechanisms.In this work, a pearlitic DCIs fatigue resistance is investigated considering both fatigue crack propagation (by means of Compact Type specimens and according to ASTM E399 standard) and overload effects, focusing the interaction between the crack and the investigated DCI microstructure (pearlitic matrix and graphite nodules). On the basis of experimental results, and considering loading conditions and damaging micromechanisms, the applicability of ASTM E399 standard on the characterization of fatigue crack propagation resistance in ferritic DCIs is critically analyzed, mainly focusing the stress intensity factor amplitude role.

Protection against metallic materials corrosion is one of the most important means to reduce both maintenance costs and environmental impact. In the last years new studies on chemical baths compositions and fluxes have been performed in order to improve processes, corrosion resistance and mechanical behavior of Zn based coatings. Chemical bath composition is often improved by the Sn addition which increases the fluidity of the melt. Ti addition makes the coatings to change color under appropriate heat treatment. In this work a comparative microstructural analysis, in Zn-Sn and Zn-Ti coatings, is performed to evaluate intermetallic phases formation kinetics and the influence of intermetallic microstructure on coating damage under constant bending deformation.

NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) are increasingly used in many engineering and medical applications, because they combine special functional properties, such as shape memory effect and pseudo-elasticity, with good mechanical strength and biocompatibility. However, the microstructural changes associated with these functional properties are not yet completely known. In this work a NiTi pseudo-elastic alloy was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction in order to assess micro-structural transformations under mechanical uniaxial deformation. The structure after complete shape recovery have been compared with initial state.

L’Istituto per i Beni Artistici, Culturali e Naturali della Regione Emilia-Romagna ha avviato da tempo un progetto di informatizzazione delle proprie collezioni cartografiche ed aerofotografiche, che ne prevede la scansione e la georeferenziazione, secondo i parametri di qualità indicati dall’ICCD e curandone fin dall’inizio l’integrazione all’interno dei sistemi informativi regionali.

In the last years, the attention to environmental topics led a new approach solution in classical protection techniques, introducing innovative way oriented to optimize different coating properties. Hot-dip galvanizing is a classical process aimed to generate coatings on iron-based surfaces, used unchanged since 200 years: some chemical elements are added in the bath with different aims (e.g., Pb is really important for its fluidizing properties, sometimes replaced by Sn) but sometimes these elements are dangerous for human health (e.g. … Pb!).In this work, the influence of dipping time and coatings chemical compositions on damaging micromechanisms was investigated considering different Sn and Ti contents. Main damaging micromechanisms in hot dip zinc coated ipersandelin steel specimens were investigated by means of bending tests. Longitudinal sections of bended specimens were observed by means of a LOM (Light Optical Microscope): main damage micromechanisms were identified as longitudinal and radial cracks.

Microstructure influence on fatigue crack propagation resistance in five different ductile cast irons (DCI) was investigated. Four ferrite/pearlite volume fractions were considered, performing fatigue crack propagation tests according to ASTM E647 standard (R equals to 0.1, 0.5 and 0.75, respectively). Results were compared with an austempered DCI. Damaging micromechanisms were investigated according to the following procedures: - “traditional” Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) fracture surfaces analysis; - SEM fracture surface analysis with 3D quantitative analysis; - SEM longitudinal crack profile analysis - Light Optical Microscope (LOM) transversal crack profile analysis;

Le osservazioni al microscopio elettronico a scansione (SEM) delle superfici di frattura ottenute a seguito di rotture per fatica consentono di evidenziare alcuni meccanismi di avanzamento che dipendono dal materiale e dalla modalità di applicazione delle sollecitazioni. L’introduzione di moderne tecniche di analisi di immagine assistite al calcolatore permette di elaborare un numero di informazioni elevato che consente di porre in relazione le caratteristiche morfologiche locali con il comportamento meccanico macroscopico del materiale.In questo lavoro è stata implementata una tecnica innovativa di analisi di immagine basata sull’analisi della tessitura, valutando l’influenza delle condizioni di applicazione della sollecitazione (ΔK applicato) sulla evoluzione del clivaggio rilevato sulle superfici di frattura a fatica di una ghisa sferoidale ferrito-perlitica.

The HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is organized as a mini-chromosome in the nuclei of infected hepatocytes by histone and non-histone proteins. Transcription from the cccDNA of the RNA replicative intermediate termed pre-genome (pgRNA), is the critical step for genome amplification and ultimately determines the rate of HBV replication. Multiple evidences suggest that cccDNA epigenetic modifications, such as histone modifications and DNA methylation, participate in regulating the transcriptional activity of the HBV cccDNA. Inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, LTβ) and the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL6) inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and transcription. Here we show, in HepG2 cells transfected with linear HBV monomers and HBV-infected NTCP-HepG2 cells, that IL6 treatment leads to a reduction of cccDNA-bound histone acetylation paralleled by a rapid decrease in 3.5kb/pgRNA and subgenomic HBV RNAs transcription without affecting cccDNA chromatinization or cccDNA levels. IL6 repressive effect on HBV replication is mediated by a loss of HNF1α and HNF4α binding to the cccDNA and a redistribution of STAT3 binding from the cccDNA to IL6 cellular target genes.

NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) are increasingly used in many engineering and medical applications, because they combine special functional properties, such as shape memory effect and pseudoelasticity, with good mechanical strength and biocompatibility. However, the microstructural changes associated with these functional properties are not yet completely known. In this work a NiTi pseudo-elastic alloy was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction in order to assess micro-structural transformations under mechanical uniaxial deformation. The structure after complete shape recovery have been compared with initial state.

In the last years, the attention to environmental topics led a new approach solution in classical protection techniques, introducing innovative way oriented to optimize different coating properties. Hot-dip galvanizing is a classical process aimed to generate coatings on iron-based surfaces, used unchanged since 200 years: some chemical elements are added in the bath with different aims (e.g., Pb is really important for its fluidizing properties, sometimes replaced by Sn) but sometimes these elements are dangerous for human health (e.g. … Pb!). In this work, the influence of dipping time and coatings chemical compositions on damaging micromechanisms was investigated considering different Sn and Ti contents. Main damaging micromechanisms in hot dip zinc coated ipersandelin steel specimens were investigated by means of bending tests. Longitudinal sections of bended specimens were observed by means of a LOM (Light Optical Microscope): main damage micromechanisms were identified as longitudinal and radial cracks.

Microstructure influence on fatigue crack propagation resistance in five different ductile cast irons (DCI) was investigated. Four ferrite/pearlite volume fractions were considered, performing fatigue crack propagation tests according to ASTM E647 standard (R equals to 0.1, 0.5 and 0.75, respectively). Results were compared with an austempered DCI. Damaging micromechanisms were investigated according to the following procedures: - “traditional” Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) fracture surfaces analysis; - SEM fracture surface analysis with 3D quantitative analysis; - SEM longitudinal crack profile analysis - Light Optical Microscope (LOM) transversal crack profile analysis;

Le osservazioni al microscopio elettronico a scansione (SEM) delle superfici di frattura ottenute a seguito di rotture per fatica consentono di evidenziare alcuni meccanismi di avanzamento che dipendono dal materiale e dalla modalità di applicazione delle sollecitazioni. L'introduzione di moderne tecniche di analisi di immagine assistite al calcolatore permette di elaborare un numero di informazioni elevato che consente di porre in relazione le caratteristiche morfologiche locali con il comportamento meccanico macroscopico del materiale. In questo lavoro è stata implementata una tecnica innovativa di analisi di immagine basata sull'analisi della tessitura, valutando l'influenza delle condizioni di applicazione della sollecitazione (LlK applicato) sulla evoluzione del clivaggio rilevato sulle superfici di frattura a fatica di una ghisa sferoidale ferritoperlitica.

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