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At least 379 records · Page 21

Tribological properties of sintered polycrystalline and single crystal silicon carbide

Tribological studies and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses were conducted with sintered polycrystalline and single crystal silicon carbide surfaces in sliding contact with iron at various temperatures to 1500 C in a vacuum of 30 nPa. The results indicate that there is a significant temperature influence on both the friction properties and the surface chemistry of silicon carbide. The main contaminants on the as received sintered polycrystalline silicon carbide surfaces are adsorbed carbon, oxygen, graphite, and silicon dioxide. The surface revealed a low coefficient of friction. This is due to the presence of the graphite on the surface. At temperatures of 400 to 600 C graphite and copious amount of silicon dioxide were observed on the polycrystalline silicon carbide surface in addition to silicon carbide. At 800 C, the amount of the silicon dioxide decreased rapidly and the silicon carbide type silicon and carbon peaks were at a maximum intensity in the XPS spectra. The coefficients of friction were high in the temperature range 400 to 800 C. Small amounts of carbon and oxygen contaminants were observed on the as received single crystal silicon carbide surface below 250 C. Silicon carbide type silicon and carbon peaks were seen on the silicon carbide in addition to very small amount of graphite and silicon dioxide at temperatures of 450 to 800 C.

Miyoshi, K.↗

CBr4 vapor growth morphologies near the polymorphic transition point. I - Single crystals. II - Crystals with large-angle grain boundaries

High-resolution microscopy and image processing were used to investigate morphological changes in CBr4 single crystals during growth from the vapor at various levels of supersaturation and at temperatures below the compound's polymorphic phase transition. It was found that, as the temperature increased at fixed supersaturations, the corners of the crystals became rounded as a result of thermal roughening; the rounding temperatures were different for crystallographically different corners. A study of CBr4 crystals with large-angle grain boundaries or twin boundaries (extended macrodefects), conducted at the temperature of polymorphic phase transition showed that the phase transition temperature, T(tr) and crystal surface morphology of these crystals depended on the presence or absence of extended macrodefects. Unlike the case of a perfect single crystal, where the T(tr) was about 46.75 C, the phase transition in crystals with extended macrodefects occurred significantly below 46.75.

Xiao, Rong-Fu↗

Investigation of Advanced Processed Single-Crystal Turbine Blade Alloys

This investigation studied the influence of thermal processing and microstructure on the mechanical properties of the single-crystal, nickel-based superalloys PWA 1482 and PWA 1484. The objective of the program was to develop an improved single-crystal turbine blade alloy that is specifically tailored for use in hydrogen fueled rocket engine turbopumps. High-gradient casting, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), and alternate heat treatment (HT) processing parameters were developed to produce pore-free, eutectic-free microstructures with different (gamma)' precipitate morphologies. Test materials were cast in high thermal gradient solidification (greater than 30 C/cm (137 F/in.)) casting furnaces for reduced dendrite arm spacing, improved chemical homogeneity, and reduced interdendritic pore size. The HIP processing was conducted in 40 cm (15.7 in.) diameter production furnaces using a set of parameters selected from a trial matrix study. Metallography was conducted on test samples taken from each respective trial run to characterize the as-HIP microstructure. Post-HIP alternate HT processes were developed for each of the two alloys. The goal of the alternate HT processing was to fully solution the eutectic gamma/(gamma)' phase islands and to develop a series of modified (gamma)' morphologies for subsequent characterization testing. This was accomplished by slow cooling through the (gamma)' solvus at controlled rates to precipitate volume fractions of large (gamma)'. Post-solution alternate HT parameters were established for each alloy providing additional volume fractions of finer precipitates. Screening tests included tensile, high-cycle fatigue (HCF), smooth and notched low-cycle fatigue (LCF), creep, and fatigue crack growth evaluations performed in air and high pressure (34.5 MPa (5 ksi)) hydrogen at room and elevated temperature. Under the most severe embrittling conditions (HCF and smooth and notched LCF in 34.5 MPa (5 ksi) hydrogen at 20 C (68 F), screening test results showed increases in fatigue life typically on the order of 1OX, when compared to the current Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Alternate Turbopump (AT) blade alloy (PWA 1480).

Peters, B. J.↗

Microstructure-property relationships in directionally solidified single crystal nickel-base superalloys

Some of the microstructural features which influence the creep properties of directionally solidified and single crystal nickel-base superalloys are discussed. Gamma precipitate size and morphology, gamma-gamma lattice mismatch, phase instability, alloy composition, and processing variations are among the factors considered. Recent experimental results are reviewed and related to the operative deformation mechanisms and to the corresponding mechanical properties. Special emphasis is placed on the creep behavior of single crystal superalloys at high temperatures, where directional gamma coarsening is prominent, and at lower temperatures, where gamma coarsening rates are significantly reduced. It can be seen that very subtle changes in microstructural features can have profound effects on the subsequent properties of these materials.

Mackay, R. A.↗

VERDI: VERsatile DIffractometer with wide-angle polarization analysis for magnetic structure studies in powders and single crystals

The VERsatile DIffractometer will set a new standard for a world-class magnetic diffractometer with versatility for both powder and single crystal samples and capability for wide-angle polarization analysis. The instrument will utilize a large single-frame bandwidth and will offer high-resolution at low momentum transfers and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. A horizontal elliptical mirror concept with interchangeable guide pieces will provide high flexibility in beam divergence to allow for a high-resolution powder mode, a high-intensity single crystal mode, and a polarized beam option. A major science focus will be quantum materials that exhibit emergent properties arising from collective effects in condensed matter. The unique use of polarized neutrons to isolate the magnetic signature will provide optimal experimental input to state-of-the-art modeling approaches to access detailed insight into local magnetic ordering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Factors Affecting the Plasticity of Sodium Chloride, Lithium Fluoride, and Magnesium Oxide Single Crystals

A study was made of the relative magnitude of the effects of various factors on the ductility of single crystals of sodium chloride (NaCl), lithium fluoride (LiF), and magnesium oxide (MgO). Specimen treatments included water-polishing, varying cleavage rate, annealing, quenching, X-irradiation, surface coating, aging, and combinations of some of these treatments. The mechanical behavior of the crystals was studied in flexure and in compression, the latter study being performed at both constant strain rate and constant load. Etch-pit studies were carried out to provide some pertinent information on the results of pretreatment on the dislocation concentration and distribution in the vicinity of the surface. The load deformation curves for these ionic single crystals show an initial region of very low slope which proved to be due to anelastic deformation. The extent of initial anelastic deformation is modified by specimen pretreatment in a way that suggests that this deformation is the result of expansion of cleaved-in dislocation loops, which can contract on the removal of the stress. The effects of the various pretreatments on the load and deflection at fracture are in accord with the prediction one might make with regard to their effect on the nucleation of fatal surface cracks. For NaCl, increases in ductility are always accompanied by increases in strength. The creep constants for NaCl are a function of treatments which affect the bulk structure but are not a function of treatments which only affect the surface.

Stearns, Carl A.↗

Inhomogeneities in single crystals of cuprate oxide superconductors

The next stage in the evolution of experimental research on the high temperature superconductors will require high quality single crystals and epitaxially grown crystalline films. However, inhomogeneities and other defects are not uncommon in single crystals of cuprate oxide superconductors, so a corollary requirement will be a reliable method for judging the quality of these materials. The application of magnetically modulated resistance methods in this task is briefly described and illustrated.

Moorjani, K.↗

Optical transmission and dimensional stability of single-crystal sapphire after high-dose neutron irradiation at various temperatures up to 688 °C

The use of single-crystal sapphire optical fibers has been considered to extend fiber-optic sensing to the extreme temperature (>1000 °C) environments encountered in nuclear applications. However, before these sapphire fiber–based sensors can be deployed, their optical transmission and dimensional stability (which impacts drift of some sensors) must be characterized under representative testing conditions. Data regarding the optical transmission of sapphire following high-dose neutron irradiation at temperatures >100 °C is extremely limited. This work provides measurements of optical density (i.e., attenuation) and directional dimensional changes in bulk single-crystal sapphire materials irradiated to a fast neutron fluence of 2.4 × 10 21 n/cm 2 (3.5 displacements per atom) at temperatures ranging from 95 to 688 °C. Optical density measured after irradiation at 95 and 298 °C showed ultraviolet and visible absorption bands corresponding to known defect centers and temperature trends that were generally consistent with previous ex situ and in situ measurements made at much lower neutron fluence. However, optical density measured after irradiation at 688 °C was as much as two orders of magnitude higher, indicating that the fundamental mechanism for radiation-induced attenuation changes at this irradiation temperature. Additional analysis and comparison with previous works suggest that the attenuation may result from void formation, leading to increased Rayleigh scattering losses in the material and increased swelling that would also result in drift of Bragg grating-based sensors in sapphire fibers. These results pose serious questions regarding the feasibility of sapphire fiber–based sensors for high-temperature nuclear applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Molecular-field-theory fits to magnetic susceptibilities of antiferromagnetic GdCu 2 Si 2 , CuO, LiCrO 2 , and α-CaCr 2 O 4 single crystals below their Néel temperatures

A recently-developed molecular field theory (MFT) has been used to fit single-crystal magnetic susceptibility χ versus temperature T data below the respective antiferromagnetic ordering temperature T N for a variety of collinear and coplanar noncollinear Heisenberg antiferromagnets. The spins in the system are assumed to interact by Heisenberg exchange and to be identical and crystallographically equivalent. The fitting parameters for χ(T ) of collinear antiferromagnets are measurable quantities: the Weiss temperature θ p in the Curie-Weiss law, TN, χ(T N ), and the spin S. For coplanar noncollinear helix and cycloid structures, an additional fitting parameter is the turn angle between layers of ferromagnetically-aligned spins. Here MFT fits to anisotropic χ(T) data from the literature for single crystals of the collinear antiferromagnets GdCu 2 Si 2 and CuO and the noncollinear antiferromagnets LiCrO 2 with a 120° cycloidal structure and α-CaCr 2 O 4 with a 120° helical structure below their respective N´eel temperatures are presented. The MFT fit to the anisotropic χ(T ≤ T N ) data for CuO is poor, whereas the fits to the data for GdCu 2 Si 2 , LiCrO 2 , and α-CaCr 2 O 4 are quite good. The poor fit for CuO is attributed to the influence of strong quantum fluctuations associated with the small Cu spin and the quasi-one-dimensional magnetism that are not taken into account by the MFT. The magnetic contribution to the zero-field heat capacity of the collinear antiferromagnet GdNiGe 3 at T ≤ T N is also fitted by the MFT.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

1300 K Creep Behavior of [001] Oriented Ni-49Al-1Hf (at.%) Single Crystals

A study of the 1300 K compressive and tensile creep properties of [001]-oriented NiAl-1Hf (D209) single crystals has been undertaken. Neither post homogenization cooling treatment, minor chemical variations within an ingot or from ingot-to-ingot, nor testing procedure had a significant effect on mechanical behavior; however a heat treatment which dissolved the initial G-phase precipitates and promoted formation of Heusler particles led to a strength reduction. Little primary creep was found utilizing direct measurement of strain, and a misorientation of 18 deg from the [001] did not reduce the creep strength. The effects of heat treatments on properties and a comparison of the flow stress-strain rate data to those predicted by the Jaswon-Cottrell solid solution hardening model indicate that the 1300 K strength in NiAl-1Hf single crystals is mainly due to precipitation hardening mechanisms.

Whittenberger, J. Daniel↗

Low cycle fatigue of MAR-M 200 single crystals at 760 and 870 deg C

Fully reversed low cycle fatigue tests were conducted on single crystals of the nickel-base superalloys Mar-M 200 at 760 C and 870 C. At 760 C, planar slip (octahedral) lead to orientation-dependent strain hardening and cyclic lives. Multiple slip crystals strain hardened the most, resulting in relatively high stress ranges and low lives. Single slip crystals strain hardened the least, resulting in relatively low stress ranges and higher lives. A preferential crack initiation site which was related to slip plane geometry was observed in single slip orientated crystals. At 870 C, the trends were quite different, and the slip character was much more homogeneous. As the tensile axis orientation deviated from 001 , the stress ranges increased and the cyclic lives decreased. Two possible mechanisms were proposed to explain the behavior: one is based on Takeuchi and Kuramoto's cube cross-slip model, and the other is based on orientation-dependent creep rates.

Milligan, W. W.↗