Engineering topics

Hofmann, Michael

Publications and source records attributed to Hofmann, Michael.

4 records

DOE OSTI2024

Neutron diffraction: a primer

Because of the neutron’s special properties, neutron diffraction may be considered one of the most powerful techniques for structure determination of crystalline and related matter. Neutrons can be released from nuclear fission, from spallation processes, and also from low-energy nuclear reactions, and they can then be used in powder, time-of-flight, texture, single crystal, and other techniques, all of which are perfectly suited to clarify crystal and magnetic structures. With high neutron flux and sufficient brilliance, neutron diffraction also excels for diffuse scattering, for in situ and operando studies as well as for high-pressure experiments of today’s materials. For these, the wave-like neutron’s infinite advantage (isotope specific, magnetic) is crucial to answering important scientific questions, for example, on the structure and dynamics of light atoms in energy conversion and storage materials, magnetic matter, or protein structures. In this primer, we summarize the current state of neutron diffraction (and how it came to be), but also look at recent advances and new ideas, e.g., the design of new instruments, and what follows from that.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Residual stresses in Cu matrix composite surface deposits after laser melt injection

Abstract Tungsten carbide particles reinforced metal matrix composite (MMC) coatings can significantly improve surface wear resistance owing to their increased surface hardness. However, the presence of macro‐ and micro‐residual stresses in MMC coatings can have detrimental effects, such as reducing service life. In this study, neutron diffraction was used to determine the residual stresses in spherical fused tungsten carbide (sFTC) reinforced Cu matrix composite surface deposits after laser melt injection. We also developed a thermo‐mechanical coupled finite element model to predict residual stresses. Our findings reveal that sFTC/Cu composite deposits produced with a preheating temperature of 400°C have low residual stresses, with a maximum tensile residual stress of 98 MPa in the Cu matrix on the top surface. In contrast, the sFTC/bronze (CuAl10Ni5Fe4) composite deposit exhibits very high residual stresses, with a maximum tensile residual stress in the Cu matrix on the top surface reaching 651 MPa. These results provide a better understanding of the magnitudes and distributions of residual stresses in sFTC‐reinforced Cu matrix composite surface deposits manufactured via laser melt injection.

Zhang, Xingxing↗

DOE OSTI2014

Pressure induced magneto-structural phase transitions in layered RMn{sub 2}X{sub 2} compounds (invited)

We have studied a range of pseudo-ternaries derived from the parent compound PrMn{sub 2}Ge{sub 2}, substituting for each constituent element with a smaller one to contract the lattice. This enables us to observe the magneto-elastic transitions that occur as the Mn-Mn nearest neighbour distance is reduced and to assess the role of Pr on the magnetism. Here, we report on the PrMn{sub 2}Ge{sub 2−x}Si{sub x}, Pr{sub 1−x}Y{sub x}Mn{sub 2}Ge{sub 2}, and PrMn{sub 2−x}Fe{sub x}Ge{sub 2} systems. The pressure produced by chemical substitution in these pseudo-ternaries is inherently non-uniform, with local pressure variations dependent on the local atomic distribution. We find that concentrated chemical substitution on the R or X site (e.g., in Pr{sub 0.5}Y{sub 0.5}Mn{sub 2}Ge{sub 2} and PrMn{sub 2}Ge{sub 0.8}Si{sub 1.2}) can produce a separation into two distinct magnetic phases, canted ferromagnetic and canted antiferromagnetic, with a commensurate phase gap in the crystalline lattice. This phase gap is a consequence of the combination of phase separation and spontaneous magnetostriction, which is positive on transition to the canted ferromagnetic phase and negative on transition to the canted antiferromagnetic phase. Our results show that co-existence of canted ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases depends on chemical pressure from the rare earth and metalloid sites, on local lattice strain distributions and on applied magnetic field. We demonstrate that the effects of chemical pressure bear close resemblance to those of mechanical pressure on the parent compound.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2013

In-situ measurement of phase transformation kinetics in austempered ductile iron

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) alloyed with 0.42% Mn and 0.72% Cu was heat treated in a mirror furnace and the phase transitions were studied in-situ by neutron diffraction. The heat treatment consisted of austenitisation at 920 °C and isothermal austempering at 400 °C, 350 °C and 300 °C, respectively. Due to the growth of ferrite platelets, the austenite content decreases rapidly at all temperatures within the first 15–20 min and reaches a stable plateau after 35 min (400 °C) to 80 min (300 °C). The carbon content of the residual austenite, which was monitored and characterised by the change of the lattice parameter, increases up to 1.6 wt.% caused by redistribution from the newly formed ferrite. While at higher austempering temperatures this takes place almost parallel to the phase transformation, at 300 °C the redistribution of carbon to austenite lags behind considerably. Furthermore the neutron data revealed an austenite peak asymmetry during austempering which is attributed to successive phase transformation. It results temporarily in two fractions of austenite, an initial low-carbon and an enriched high-carbon modification. - Highlights: • The heat treatment of ADI was studied in detail by in-situ neutron diffraction. • The phase fractions were monitored and evaluated quantitatively. • The austenite carbon content increased up to 1.6 wt.% during austempering. • Peak asymmetries indicate two austenite fractions during highest transformation rates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗