Magnesium antimonide and magnesium bismuthide as potential materials for power generating thermocouples.
Magnesium antimonide and magnesium bismuthide as materials for power generating thermocouples
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Magnesium antimonide and magnesium bismuthide as materials for power generating thermocouples
Solid state physics - semiconductor energy gap materials, crystal structure, epitaxial vacuum vaporization, magnetic behavior, and optical transmission
The synthesis and some properties of several arsenopyrite phases based on RuSb(sub 2-2x)Te(sub 2x) and RuSb(sub 2-2x)Se(sub 2x) solid solutions is reported.
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Mechanical components (bearings, gears, mechanisms) typically utilize hardened construction materials to minimize wear and attain long life. In such components, loaded contact points (e.g., meshing gear teeth, bearing balls-raceway contacts) experience high contact stresses. The combination of high hardness and high elastic modulus often leads to damaging contact stress and denting, particularly during transient overload events such as shock impacts that occur during the launching of space vehicles or the landing of aircraft. In this webinar, Dr. DellaCorte will introduce the results of a research project that employs a superelastic alloy, Ni-Ti for rolling element bearing applications. Bearings and components made from such alloys can alleviate many problems encountered in advanced aerospace applications and may solve many terrestrial applications as well
The hardness and microstructure of twenty-six binary and ternary Nitinol (nickel titanium, nickel titanium hafnium, nickel titanium zirconium and nickel titanium tantalum) compounds were studied. A small (50g) ingot of each compound was produced by vacuum arc remelting. Each ingot was homogenized in vacuum for 48 hr followed by furnace cooling. Specimens from the ingots were then heat treated at 800, 900, 1000 or 1100 degree C for 2 hr followed by water quenching. The hardness and microstructure of each specimen was compared to the baseline material (55-Nitinol, 55 at.% nickel - 45 at.% titanium, after heat treatment at 900 degC). The results show that eleven of the studied compounds had higher hardness values than the baseline material. Moreover, twelve of the studied compounds had measured hardness values greater 600HV at heat treatments from 800 to 900 degree C.
Though steel is the dominant material of choice for mechanical components (bearings and gears) it has intrinsic limitations related to corrosion and plastic deformation. In contrast, dimensionally stable nickel-rich Ni-Ti alloys, such as Nitinol 60, are intrinsically rustproof and can withstand high contact loads without damage (denting). Over the last decade, focused RD to exploit these alloys for new applications has revealed the science behind NiTi's remarkable properties. In this presentation, the state-of-the-art of nickel-rich NiTi alloys will be introduced along with a discussion of how NASA is adopting this new technology inside the space station water recycling system as a pathfinder for more down-to-earth tribological challenges.
The unlubricated friction and wear properties of the superelastic materials NiTi and NiTiHf, treated by either gas nitriding or plasma nitriding, have been investigated. Pin on disk testing of the studied materials was performed at sliding speeds from 0.01 to 1m/s at normal loads of 1, 5 or 10N. For all of the studied friction pairs (NiTiHf pins vs. NiTi and NiTiHf disks) over the given parameters, the steady-state coefficients of friction varied from 0.22 to 1.6. Pin wear factors ranged from approximately 1E-6 against the NiTiHf and plasma nitrided disks to approximately 1E-4 for the gas nitrided disks. The plasma nitrided disks provided wear protection in several cases and tended to wear by adhesion. The gas nitrided treatment generated the most pin wear but had essentially no disk wear except at the most severe of the studied conditions (1N load and 1m/s sliding speed). The results of this study are expected to provide guidance for design of components such as gears and fasteners.
Fracture surfaces on a failed bearing race made from 60-Nitinol (60 wt% Ni - 40 wt% Ti) were analyzed. The bearing had experienced excessive localized heat due to an issue during machining that may have resulted in dimensional distortion. However, the classical fracture features that were identified by scanning electron microscopy and the fracture origins coincided with high concentrations of TiC-based contamination. Lessons learned for processing and quality control are discussed. An attempt to use x-ray diffraction to directly measure residual stresses imparted from the required heat treatment is also discussed.
Selected properties of 57Ni-40Ti-3Hf (wt%) were measured to further develop this material for use in aerospace rolling-element bearings. The average grain size and microindentation hardness of the material at room temperature were 90 μm and 549 HV, respectively. From room temperature to 500 °C, electrical resistivity increased from 8.9×10 –7 to 11.3×10 –7 Ω⋅m, thermal expansion coefficients varied from 1.1×10 –5 to 1.2×10 –5 mm/mm⋅°C, specific heat increased from 0.44 to 0.53 W⋅sec/g⋅K, thermal diffusivity rose from approximately 0.003 to 0.005 cm 2 /sec and thermal conductivity increased from approximately 0.09 to 0.19 W/cm⋅K. The behavior of the material can be explained by well-known metallurgical theory. These results are expected to provide a basis for design and modeling of future aerospace components.
Selected properties of 57Ni-40Ti-3Hf (wt%) were measured to further develop this material for use in aerospace rolling-element bearings. The average grain size and microindentation hardness of the material at room temperature were 90 μm and 549 HV, respectively. From room temperature to 500 °C, electrical resistivity increased from 8.9×10–7 to 11.3×10–7 Ω⋅m, thermal expansion coefficients varied from 1.1×10–5 to 1.2×10–5 mm/mm⋅°C, specific heat increased from 0.44 to 0.53 W⋅sec/g⋅K, thermal diffusivity rose from approximately 0.003 to 0.005 cm2/sec and thermal conductivity increased from approximately 0.09 to 0.19 W/cm⋅K. The behavior of the material can be explained by well-known metallurgical theory. These results are expected to provide a basis for design and modeling of future aerospace components.
Multi Principal Elemental Alloys (MPEA) have emerged as promising materials for next-generation nuclear reactors due to their exceptional irradiation resistance. Eight equiatomic MPEA based on the MoNbTi system, comprising of elements with low thermal neutron absorption cross-sections were explored using a combined approach employing empirical parameter estimations, and CALPHAD simulations by which the phases and elemental segregation observed in all the alloys in the as-cast state were predicted. Solution heat treatment at 1500°C transformed five alloys into single-phase matrix materials, enhancing homogeneity and reducing hardness. The densities of the alloys ranged between 6.47 to 7.68 g/cm3, hardness between 472 and 656 VHN, Young’s modulus between 142 GPa to 169 GPa, shear modulus between 54 GPa and 62 GPa, bulk modulus between 117 GPa to 194 GPa and Poisson’s ratio between 0.3 to 0.35. The in-situ high temperature Xray diffraction results, differential scanning calorimetry and dilatometry results up to 1000°C suggested the high temperature phase stability of the MPEA. Subsequent ageing heat treatment at 800 and 1000 oC for 96 hours revealed significant secondary phase precipitation in MoNbTiZr, MoNbTiZrV, and MoNbTiCrA. Oxidation studies at 800 oC for 24 hours in air revealed superior oxidation resistance and cubic rate law dependence in Cr containing MPEA especially in MoNbTiCrAl, while severe mass gain resulting in total disintegration and exfoliation in MoNbTiZr and MoNbTiZrV. This comprehensive study underscores the potential of novel MPEA as promising materials for advanced nuclear reactor applications, shedding light on their microstructural control, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and oxidation resistance.