Iranian Journal of Materials science and Engineering
Volume:17 Issue: 1, Mar 2020

In the present work, accumulative roll bonding (ARB) was used as an effective method for processed of nano/ultrafine grained AA6063 alloy. Microstructural characteristics indicate considerable grain refinement leading to an average grain size of less than 200 nm after 7 ARB cycles. Texture analysis showed that 1-cycle ARB formed a strong texture near Copper component ({112}). However, texture transition appeared by increasing the number of ARB cycles and after 7-cycle of ARB, the texture was mainly developed close to Rotated Cube component ({100}<110>). The results originated from mechanical properties indicated a substantial increment in strength and microhardness besides a meaningful drop of ductility after 7 ARB cycles.

Kinetic models are the most important instruments for predicting and evaluating the performance of flotation circuits. To determine the kinetic order and rate of flotation of a gilsonite sample, flotation experiments were carried out in both rougher and cleaner stages. Experiments conducted using the combinations of petroleum-MIBC, gas oil-pine oil, and one test without any collector and frother. Five first order kinetic models were applied to the data obtained from the flotation tests by using the Matrix Laboratory software. Statistical analysis showed that the classic first order model perfectly matched the rougher and cleaner results performed using petroleum-MIBC combination. The kinetic constants (k) were calculated as 0.04 (s-1) and 0.01 (s-1) for the rougher and cleaner, respectively. Rougher and cleaner tests without collector and frother also matched with the modified gas/solid adsorption and rectangular models with the k values of 0.05 (s-1), and 0.01 (s-1), respectively. The relationship between flotation rate constant, maximum combustible recovery and particle size were also studied. The results showed that the maximum flotation combustible recovery and flotation rate were obtained with an intermediate particle size both in the rougher and cleaner flotation processes. The combustible recovery and flotation rate in the rougher flotation process were higher than that in the cleaner flotation process.

This work evaluates the resistance of alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar against sodium sulfate attack. The effects of immersion in 5% sodium sulfate solution under room temperature and wetting-drying cycles on the compressive strength of mortar specimens were considered for evaluating the extent of degradation. Mortar specimens prepared from type II and V Portland cements (PC2 and PC5) in accordance with ASTM standard were also used as reference. To characterize the chemical products of the degradation process due to sodium sulfate attack, the specimens were also studied by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and the elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. After 360 days of exposure to the sodium sulfate solution, PC2, PC5 and AAS cements showed 71, 52 and 45% reduction in compressive strength, respectively. According to the obtained results, AAS cement exhibits a higher sulfate resistance compared to PC2 and PC5.

In this research, the nanostructured titania-coated silica microsphere (NTCSM) membrane consisting of titania-silica core-shell particles on α–alumina substrate was prepared by dip-coating method. The silica microspheres were synthesized by the Stöber method, and the nanostructured titania shell was obtained from a polymeric sol. Then, the prepared core-shell particles were deposited on alumina substrates. The samples were characterized by DLS, TG-DTA, XRD, FTIR and SEM. The photo-catalytic activity of the NTCSM membranes was evaluated using photo-degradation of methyl orange solution by UV–visible spectrophotometer. Also, physical separation capability was investigated by filtration experiment based on methyl orange removal from aqueous solution using a membrane setup. The mean particle size distribution of silica microspheres was determined to be about 650 nm that by deposition of titania nano-particles increased up to about 800 nm. After 60 min UV-irradiation, the dye removal efficiency was determined to be 80% by the membrane. By coupling separation process with photo-catalytic technique, the removal efficiency was improved up to 97%. Thus, the NTCSM membranes showed simultaneous photo-degradation and separation capabilities for dye removal from water.

The main problem of cobalt oxide as a thermochemical heat storage material is its slow re-oxidation kinetics. In addition, redox (reduction and oxidation) behavior of as-received Co3O4 is degraded with increasing the number of redox cycles. To overcome this drawback, Al2O3 and Y2O3 were added to Co3O4 and  effect of mechanical activation time (2, 4, 8, and 16 h) on the redox behavior (weight change value/rate, redox reversibility, reduction and re-oxidation values, and particle morphologies) of Co3O4-5 wt.% Al2O3 and Co3O4-5 wt. % Y2O3 composites was investigated using thermogravimetry method. The composites were studied by SEM, EDS, and X-ray map analyses before and after redox reactions. Results showed that increasing the mechanical activation time improves the redox kinetics of Co3O4-5wt. % Al2O3 in comparison with as-received Co3O4. Although, the alumina-containing samples, activated in short time showed the better redox kinetics than samples activated in long time. It was found that increasing the activation time to more than 8 h for alumina-containing samples reduces the redox kinetics due to decreasing the positive effect of Al2O3 in controlling the particle size growth and sintering. In the case of Co3O4-5wt. % Y2O3, an increase in activation time generally reduced the redox kinetics. As a result, redox reactions in a 16 h-activated Co3O4-5wt.% Y2O3 composite was completely stopped. In addition, results showed that weak performance of Co3O4-5 wt. % Y2O3 is related to intensive sintering and growth of cobalt oxide particles during redox reactions

In the present investigation, A356-TiB2/TiC composites with a various weight fractions (0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5%) were synthesized through a K2TiF6-KBF4-Graphite (C) reaction system. Formation of TiB2 and TiC particulates and their distribution are confirmed by various characterization techniques. The tensile properties such as ultimate strength, yield strength, young's modulus and percentage of elongation in addition to their failure behavior of these composites were studied at ambiance and high temperatures (100, 200 and 3000C). The increment in the volume fraction of the composite raises the hardness and the enhancement of hardness was reported up to 49% at 7.5% reinforced composite due to the strengthening effect. The density and porosity of fabricated composites were investigated. The rise in volume fraction of reinforcement phase declines the density and increase the porosity of composites. Further, the ultimate strength, yield strength, young's modulus is declining by raising the temperature. Result analysis illustrates that the 7.5% reinforced composite retaining the ultimate strength up to 84.4% and the ductility is raised by 27% at 3000C. Yield strength and young's modulus are also retained 74.31% and 71.09% respectively at the similar material and experimental conditions. The fracture surface analysis of the composites illustrates that, the ductile nature of failure appearance microscopically with the formation of fine dimples and voids on fracture surface at elevated temperatures. Cleavage facets and tear crumples observation indicates the brittle kind of failure at the ambient temperature. Findings from the experimental study provide the tensile behavior of the composites at the regular working temperature of the automobile engine piston.

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are synthesized through a metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) method using Si(100) substrates and silver (Ag) as a catalyst. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images confirmed that length of prepared SiNWs was increased when etching time increased. The prepared SiNWs demonstrated considerably low light reflectance at a wavelength range of 200–1100 nm. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the grown SiNWs showed a broad emission band peaked at a wavelength of about 750 nm. A solar cell and photodetector based on heterojunction SiNWs/PEDOT:PSS were fabricated using SiNWs that prepared with different etching time and its J–V, sensitivity, and time response were investigated. The conversion efficiency of fabricated solar cell was increased from 0.39% to 0.68% when wire length decreased from 24 µm to 21 µm, respectively. However, the sensitivity of the heterojunction SiNWs/PEDOT:PSS photodetector was decreased from 53774% to 36826% when wire length decreased from 24 µm to 21 µm, respectively.

In the present study, a soft computing method namely the group method of data handling (GMDH) is applied to develop a new and efficient predictive model for prediction of conversion percentage of silicon. A comprehensive database is obtained from experimental studies in literature. Several effective parameters like time, temperature, nitrogen percentage, pellet size and silicon particle size are considered. The performance of the model is evaluated through statistical analysis. Moreover, the silicon nitridation was performed in 1573 k and results were evaluated against model results for validation of the model. Furthermore, the performance and efficiency of the GMDH model is confirmed against the two most common analytical models. The most effective parameters in estimating the conversion percentage are determined through sensitivity analysis based on the Gamma Test. Finally, the robustness of the developed model is verified through parametric analysis.

In this paper, the effects of solutioning and various aging heat treatment processes on the microstructure, the hardness and electrochemical properties of a duplex stainless steel (DSS) were studied. The evaluation of the microstructure and phase compositions were carried out by the optical microscopy (OM) and the X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Electrochemical behaviors of specimens were evaluated by both potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) tests at temperatures of 25 and 60 ºC. The obtained results showed that the solutioning heat treatment increased corrosion rates with respect to the blank specimen. The aging process at 490 ºC for 20 hrs increased the volume percent of the carbide phase to the highest value (25.1%) which resulted in an increase of the hardness value to 170 VHN. The specimen which was aged at 540 ºC for 10 hrs with the Cr7C3 size of 22.8 µm, exhibited the higher corrosion resistance at both temperatures of 25 and 60 ºC with respect to other aged specimens. In addition, the temperature of 60 ºC promoted the anodic reactions in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution which decreased impedance modulus values significantly. Consequently, the carbide size was more effective parameter than the carbide content in predicting electrochemical behaviors of such alloys.

In this paper a constitutive equation was considered for the isothermal hot compression test of the Mn-Ni-Cr alloy. The hot compression test was performed in the strain rate range of 0.001-0.1 s-1 and deformation temperature was varied from 700 to 900 °C. A considerable reduction in flow stress was observed regardless of the strain rate when temperature was increased from 700 to 750 °C. DTA and XRD evaluation revealed that the removal of Mn3Cr phase and formation of the single solid solution phase were the reason for the flow stress reduction. At the low deformation temperature (700°C) and the high strain rate (0.1 s-1), a partially recrystallized microstructure was observed; this was such that with increasing the temperature and decreasing the strain rate, a recrystallized microstructure was completed. Also, the relationships between flow stress, strain rate and deformation temperature were addressed by the Zener-Holloman parameter in the exponent type with the hot deformation activation energy of 301.07 KJ/mol. Finally, the constitutive equation was proposed for predicting the flow stress at various strain rates and temperatures.

An experimental–numerical methodology was used in order to study the microstructural effects on stress state dependency of martensitic transformation kinetics in two different TRIP800 low alloy multiphase steels. Representative volume elements extracted from actual microstructure have been utilized for simulating the mechanical behavior of mentioned steels. The mechanical behavior for each constituent phases required in the model has been taken out from those reported in the literature. A stress invariant based transformation kinetics law has been used to predict the martensitic phase transformation during deformation. Crystallographic and thermodynamic theories of martensitic phase transformation have been utilized for estimating the constant parameters of the kinetics law, in a recently performed investigation, but the sensitivity of the transformation to the stress state remained as an adjusting parameter. The results of the current work show that the stress state sensitivity of martensitic phase transformation in the investigated steels is microstructure-dependent and the value of this parameter is almost equal to half of the bainite volume fraction. Therefore, the volume fraction of bainite in the low-alloy multiphase TRIP800 steels can be used as a first postulation for the value of the martensitic phase transformation sensitivity to the stress state and the microstructure based model previously developed for calculating the mechanical behavior of the TRIP800 steels can be utilized as a virtual design tool for development of TRIP steels having specific mechanical properties.

Magnetic iron oxide nanomaterials (MIONs) have been extensively investigated for the various important applications. Coprecipitation, hydrothermal, high temperature decomposition of organic precursors, microemulsions, polyol methods, electrochemical methods, aerosol method, sonolysis and green synthesis processes for the fabrication of MIONs have been reviewed. Different characterization methods like XRD, SEM, EDX and TEM for the as prepared MION materials have been studied. Important applications of MIONs in the field of biomedical, nanorobotics and energy devices have also been addressed in this review. Target oriented drug delivery and hyperthermia applications of MIONs have also focused