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In the present study, the application and tailoring of the alloy composition of chromium martensitic hot-work steels using metal cored wires (MCW) for wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) in a modified short-circuit metal transfer process is demonstrated. The nickel content was varied and the alloys were fabricated as tubular-cored wires with various powder fillings. By recording the material transfer at high speed during processing, evidence was gathered indicating the suitability of the fabricated cored wires for WAAM. Optimized process parameters were identified by taking a Design of Experiment (DoE) approach and additive manufacturing (AM) structures were fabricated from the chromium martensitic hot-work tool steel alloys. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the parts were subsequently characterized. The phase fraction of the polygonally shaped delta ferrite could be reduced and microstructural refinement could be achieved by adding nickel to the investigated hot-work tool steel. In addition to molybdenum-enriched precipitates that covered the grain boundaries, randomly scattered non-metallic inclusions and oxides were observed. Modifying the microstructure by adding nickel also affects the mechanical properties of the product: an increase in hardness, impact toughness and yield strength as the nickel content increased in the AM structures fabricated by WAAM was observed.

This work uses flow stresses obtained experimentally at different strain rates and temperatures to validate flow modelling results. Flow curves of Ti6Al4V are measured via torsion experiments with a Gleeble® 3800 up to effective strains of 8. A physically based model that describes the evolutions of microstructure and the flow stress in the β-phase field was developed. A model of continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) based on the work of Gourdet and Montheillet [1] for aluminium alloys is combined in this work with elements taken from Kocks and Mecking [2]. The model consists of a detailed description of the microstructure, based on different dislocation density populations and grain boundaries. All these internal variables evolve according to a production and a recovery term correlated mathematically with the temperature and the strain rate. The modelled output variables besides the flow stress are the total, the interior and the wall dislocation densities as well as the subgrain and grain sizes developed by continuous dynamic recrystallization. The model describes the softening occurring during large strain deformations, which is partly produced by the formation of new high angle grain boundaries (HAGB). The fraction of HAGB was used to determine the recrystallization grade, validated with microstructural characterization.

The growth kinetics of allotriomorphic α along the prior β grain boundaries and of globular primary α in Ti-6Al-4V during continuous cooling is described. A physical model is developed based on classical nucleation and growth of platelets for the allotriomorphic α. The growth of the primary α is modelled based on the growth of spherical particle immerged on a supersaturated β-matrix. Continuous cooling tests at two different holding temperatures in the α+β field, 930°C and 960°C, and five different cooling rates, 10, 30, 40, 100 and 300°C/min, are conducted to validate the proposed models and elucidate the growth sequence of those α morphologies. Additionally, interrupted tests at different temperatures are conducted to determine the progress of growth of primary α and formation allotriomorphic α during cooling. The size of primary α increases while its size distribution broadens with a decrease in cooling rate. Area fractions of primary α decrease with increasing cooling rate and increasing holding temperature. Moreover, the lower the cooling rate, the thicker the plates of allotriomorphic α. At the beginning of the cooling, growth of primary α, as well as formation of allotriomorphic α plates is observed. The experimental and modelled results show good agreement.

Introducción:el Síndrome de Guillaín-Barré (SGB) es una enfermedad autoinmune autolimitada considerándose la neuropatía aguda más frecuente. Objetivo: describir las características clínicas, analíticas y epidemiológicas de diez pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de Sindrome de Guillaín-Barré. Material y método:se incluyeron pacientes con diagnóstico de SGB. Se revisó retrospectivamente la historia clínica extrayéndose datos epidemiológicos, clínicos, paraclínicos y modalidad terapéutica utilizada. Resultados: siete pacientes eran de sexo masculino. La edad al diagnóstico fue 43,3 ± 17,3 años. El tiempo entre inicio de los síntomas y diagnóstico fue 13,6 ± 7,8 días. En la mitad se encontró un potencial desencadenante. La totalidad presentó compromiso espinal y cuatro compromiso craneal. En ocho pacientes se objetivó disociación albúmino-citológica y pacientes sometidos a estudio de neuroconducción (ENC) mostraron alteraciones predominando el patrón desmielinizante sobre el axonal. Un subgrupo de pacientes presentó positividad para anticuerpos antigangliósido y anticerebrósido sin vincularse éstos a la presentación clínica, severidad, evolución ni patrón del ENC. El tratamiento se realizó en base a recambio plasmático, inmunoglobulina intravenosa o combinación de ambos. No se halló correlación entre el tipo de tratamiento instituído y la evolución clínica al egreso. Al alta mostraron recuperación 9/10. Conclusiones: las características clínicas, analíticas y epidemiológicas son similares a las presentadas en otras series. Fueron frecuentes las infecciones como eventos desencadenantes. El tiempo entre inicio de los síntomas y diagnóstico fue prolongado. Las manifestaciones clínicas y el ENC fueron herramientas diagnósticas útiles, no así la búsqueda de autoanticuerpos. No hubo diferencias en los resultados en función del tratamiento instituido.

This paper presents a new production method for a spherical and monocrystalline aluminum powder. Aluminum powder of irregular particle shapes was mixed with silica nanoparticles and heated to a temperature above the melting point of aluminum. Due to its molten state, high surface tension, and poor wettability, the aluminum particles were transformed into liquid and spherical droplets separated by silica nanoparticles. The spherical shape was then retained when the aluminum particles solidified. The influence of the processing temperature on the particle shape, phase composition, and microstructure was investigated. Moreover, calorimetric, X-ray diffraction, grain size, and scanning electron microscopy with electron backscatter diffraction (SEM-EBSD) measurements of the particles’ microstructure are presented. It is proven that, by this means, a spherical and monocrystalline aluminum powder can be efficiently created directly from an air-atomized irregular powder. The observed phenomenon of particles becoming round is of great importance, especially when considering powder preparation for powder-based additive manufacturing processes.

An AM60 magnesium alloy nanocomposite reinforced with 1 wt % of AlN nanoparticles was prepared using an ultrasound (US) assisted permanent-mould indirect-chill casting process. Ultrasonically generated cavitation and acoustic streaming promoted de-agglomeration of particle clusters and distributed the particles throughout the melt. Significant grain refinement due to nucleation on the AlN nanoparticles was accompanied by an exceptional improvement in properties: yield strength increased by 103%, ultimate tensile strength by 115%, and ductility by 140%. Although good grain refinement was observed, the large nucleation undercooling of 14 K limits further refinement because nucleation is prevented by the formation of a nucleation-free zone around each grain. To assess the industrial applicability and recyclability of the nanocomposite material in various casting processes, tests were performed to determine the effect of remelting on the microstructure. With each remelting, a small percentage of effective AlN nanoparticles was lost, and some grain growth was observed. However, even after the third remelting, excellent strength and ductility was retained. According to strengthening models, enhanced yield strength is mainly attributed to Hall-Petch strengthening caused by the refined grain size. A small additional contribution to strengthening is attributed to Orowan strengthening.