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At least 55 records · Page 3

Friction and wear of some ferrous-base metallic glasses

Sliding friction experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and electron microscopy and diffraction studies were conducted with ferrous base metallic glasses (amorphous alloys) in contact with aluminum oxide at temperatures to 750 C in a vacuum. Sliding friction experiments were also conducted in argon and air atmospheres. The results of the investigation indicate that the coefficient of friction increases with increasing temperature to 350 C in vacuum. The increase in friction is due to an increase in adhesion resulting from surface segregation of boric oxide and/or silicon oxide to the surface of the foil. Above 500 C the coefficient of friction decreased rapidly. The decrease correlates with the segregation of boron nitride to the surface. Contaminants can come from the bulk of the material to the surface upon heating and impart boric oxide and/or silicon oxide at 350 C and boron nitride above 500 C. The segregation of contaminants is responsible for the friction behavior. The amorphous alloys have superior wear resistance to crystalline 304 stainless steel. The relative concentrations of the various constituents at the surfaces of the amorphous alloys are very different from the nominal bulk compositions.

Miyoshi, K.↗

Friction and wear of some ferrous-base metallic glasses

Sliding friction experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and electron microscopy and diffraction studies were conducted with ferrous base metallic glasses (amorphous alloys) in contact with aluminium oxide at temperatures to 750 C in a vacuum. Sliding friction experiments were also conducted in argon and air atmospheres. The results of the investigation indicate that the coefficient of friction increases with increasing temperature to 350 C in vacuum. The increase in friction is due to an increase in adhesion resulting from surface segregation of boric oxide and/or silicon oxide to the surface of the foil. Above 500 C the coefficient of friction decreased rapidly. The decrease correlates with the segregation of boron nitride to the surface. Contaminants can come from the bulk of the material to the surface upon heating and impart boric oxide and/or silicon oxide at 350 C and boron nitride above 500 C. The segregation of contaminants is responsible for the friction behavior. The amorphous alloys have superior wear resistance to crystalline 304 stainless steel. The relative concentrations of the various constituents at the surfaces of the amorphous alloys are very different from the nominal bulk compositions.

Miyoshi, K.↗

Surface oxidation and crystallization of FeNi-Based soft magnetic nanocrystalline and amorphous nanocomposite alloys

In this work, we present characterization of surface oxidation and crystallization behavior of Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite (MANC) (Fe 70 Ni 30 ) 80 Nb 4 Si 2 B 14 alloys via complementary x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. An adherent amorphous oxide of roughly 15–20 nm in thickness is observed on the wheel side of the ribbon, enriched in Fe relative to Ni and with significant content of Si and Nb as would be expected based upon a comparison of the Gibbs free energy of formation of the stable oxide phases. The amorphous character of the oxide is likely to result from the significant Si-content coupled with the amorphous and nanocrystalline character of the underlying metallic layer. Higher density of FeNi-enriched nanocrystals is also observed within ~100 nm of the wheel-side surface, presumably due to reduction in local glass former concentration. A rough, crystalline copper oxide layer is also present and forms through contact between the copper wheel and the solidifying melt during the rapid solidification process. On the air side of the ribbon, a crystalline oxide layer of ~15–20 nm is formed as well as intergranular oxidation that penetrates along the grain boundaries between highly textured surface crystallites of ~50–100 nm in size. The crystalline nature of the oxide on these surfaces is asserted to result from the lack of significant Si-content and the pre-existing surface crystallites that form during the rapid solidification process which promote a crystalline oxide surface layer. Furthermore, these results shed new insights into the details of surface oxidation and can help to inform processing and alloy composition adjustments which seek to tailor surface properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Sliding induced crystallization of metallic glass

Sliding friction and wear experiments, electron microscopy, and diffraction studies were conducted with an Fe67Co18B14Si1 ferrous-base metallic glass in sliding contact with aluminum oxide at room temperature in air. The results indicate that the amorphous alloy can be crystallized during the sliding process. Crystallization of the wear surface causes high friction. Plastic flow occurred on the amorphous alloy with sliding, and the flow film of the alloy transferred to the aluminum oxide surface. Two distinct types of wear debris were observed as a result of sliding: an alloy wear debris, and powdery and whiskery oxide debris. Generation of oxide wear debris particles on an alloy can cause transitions in friction behavior.

Miyoshi, K.↗

Spin Glass Behavior and Giant Magnetoresistance via Aliovalent Fe/Ni Alloying in Amorphous Tetrathiafulvalene-Tetrathiolate Coordination Polymers

The discovery of materials with programmable combinations of charge transport and magnetic properties is a major goal in synthetic chemistry. Molecular materials, such as coordination polymers (CPs), are emerging candidates in this field due to their synthetic modularity. While there are many conductive or magnetic CPs, single-component examples with both properties are still emerging. Here, in this work, we demonstrate how alloying paramagnetic Fe(III) centers into a highly conductive Ni-based CP results in novel amorphous materials with high conductivity and giant magnetoresistance. Aliovalent doping with paramagnetic Fe centers engenders spin-glass transitions, while Ni and the strong π-stacking interactions of tetrathiafulvalene-2,3,6,7-tetrathiolate (TTFtt) ligands support conductivity. Ni 0.69 Fe 0.31 TTFtt has σ ≈ 200 S/cm and a 1.8 K magnetoresistance of −52% at 5 T, among the largest for any coordination solid. This work demonstrates not only how magnetic properties can be rationally incorporated into conductive CPs, but also an unexpected potential for amorphous materials in spintronic applications.

amorphous materials↗

Engineering Atomic-to-Nano Scale Structural Homogeneity towards High Corrosion Resistance of Amorphous Magnesium-Based Alloys

Magnesium-based amorphous alloys have aroused broad interest in being applied in marine use due to their merits of lightweight and high strength. Yet, the poor corrosion resistance to chloride-containing seawater has hindered their practical applications. Herein, we propose a new strategy to improve the chloride corrosion resistance of amorphous Mg 65 Cu 15 Ag 10 Gd 10 alloys by engineering atomic-to-nano scale structural homogeneity, which is implemented by heating the material to the critical temperature of the liquid–liquid transition. By using various electrochemical, microscopic, and spectroscopic characterization methods, we reveal that the liquid–liquid transition can rearrange the local structural units in the amorphous structure, slightly decreasing the alloy structure’s homogeneity, accelerate the formation of protective passivation film, and, therefore, increase the corrosion resistance. Our study has demonstrated the strong coupling between an amorphous structure and corrosion behavior, which is available for optimizing corrosion-resistant alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A novel method may reveal bulk metallic glass compressive ductility trends in high data rate nanoindentation

Recent methods allow novel amorphous alloy compositions to be rapidly manufactured at small scale; however, obtaining materials properties such as compressive ductility from these smaller specimens has remained a challenge. Here, we suggest a potential high-throughput nanoindentation method that may be able to rapidly characterize the relative compressive ductility between these alloys based on their serration characteristics. The properties of emergent serrations, when interpreted in a simple micromechanical stress relaxation model, may order these materials by their compressive plastic strain to failure. These results are consistent with the ordering obtained from compressed specimens as well as with model simulations, suggesting that this model may be broadly useful for interpreting compressive ductility from nanoindentation serrations. After it is validated on more materials, this new method will match the rapid pace of amorphous alloy development, thus allowing metallic glass properties to be fine-tuned for each application prior to scale prototyping.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tuning interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions in thin amorphous ferrimagnetic alloys

Skyrmions can be stabilized in magnetic systems with broken inversion symmetry and chiral interactions, such as Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMI). Further, compensation of magnetic moments in ferrimagnetic materials can significantly reduce magnetic dipolar interactions, which tend to favor large skyrmions. Tuning DMI is essential to control skyrmion properties, with symmetry breaking at interfaces offering the greatest flexibility. However, in contrast to the ferromagnet case, few studies have investigated interfacial DMI in ferrimagnets. Here we present a systematic study of DMI in ferrimagnetic CoGd films by Brillouin light scattering. We demonstrate the ability to control DMI by the CoGd cap layer composition, the stack symmetry and the ferrimagnetic layer thickness. The DMI thickness dependence confirms its interfacial nature. In addition, magnetic force microscopy reveals the ability to tune DMI in a range that stabilizes sub-100 nm skyrmions at room temperature in zero field. Our work opens new paths for controlling interfacial DMI in ferrimagnets to nucleate and manipulate skyrmions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

1.00 MeV proton radiation resistance studies of single-junction and single gap dual-junction amorphous-silicon alloy solar cells

A comparative study of the radiation resistance of a-Si:H and a-SiGe:H single-junction and a-Si:H dual-junction solar cells was conducted. The cells were irradiated with 1.00-MeV protons with fluences of 1.0 x 10 to the 14th, 5.0 x 10 to the 14th and 1.0 x 10 to the 15th/sq cm and characterized using I-V and quantum efficiency measurements. The radiation resistance of single-junction cells cannot be used to explain the behavior of dual-junction cells at a fluence of 1.0 x 10 to the 15th/sq cm. The a-Si H single-junction cells degraded the least of the three cells; a-SiGe:H single-junction cells showed the largest reduction in short-circuit current, while a-Si:H dual-junction cells exhibited the largest degradation in the open-circuit voltage. The quantum efficiency of the cells degraded more in the red part of the spectrum; the bottom junction degrades first in dual-junction cells.

Abdulaziz, Salman↗

Crystal nucleation in amorphous (Au/100-y/Cu/y/)77Si9Ge14 alloys

Because, unlike most metallic glasses, melt-spun alloys of the series (Au/100-y/Cu/y/)77Si9Ge14 exhibit well separated glass transition and kinetic crystallization temperatures, crystallization can be studied in the fully relaxed amorphous phase. An isothermal calorimetric analysis of the devitrification kinetics of the amorphous alloy indicates sporadic nucleation and a constant growth rate. It is found for the cases of alloys with y values lower than 25 that the classical theory of homogeneous nucleation is consistent with observations, including transient effects. An analysis of the crystallization kinetics shows that slow crystal growth rates play an important role in glass formation in these alloys. Although the reduced glass transition temperature increases with Cu content, glass formation is more difficult at high Cu contents, perhaps because of a difference in nucleus composition.

Thompson, C. V.↗

Containerless processing of hypermonotectic and glass forming alloys using the Marshall Space Flight Center 100 meter drop tube facility

Two separate projects were carried out to study alloys whose solidification structures can be strongly influenced by the presence of a container during melting and solidifications. One project involved containerless solidification of hypermonotectic Au35Rh65 alloys. This alloy exhibits liquid immiscibility over a temperature range. It has been suggested that containerless melting might be one solution to the problem of sedimentation in the dispersions of immiscible liquid phases. However, surface tension driven flows could also lead to accumulation of the minority liquid phase at the external surface of a containerlessly melted alloy. The research underway is a first step in determining the influence of containerless, microgravity processing on immiscible alloys. Nickel-niobium alloys were studied using the drop tube facility. One alloy in this system, a Ni60Nb40 alloy, is a good candidate for the formation of a bulk metallic glass. Amorphous alloys of this composition were produced using thin film and mechanical alloying techniques. However, theory indicates that if heterogeneous nucleation can be avoided, it should be possible to produce an amorphous structure in this system using a moderate cooling rate from the melt. The containerless melting and solidification capabilities of the drop tube faciltiy provide ideal conditions for a study of this type. To date, several Ni60Nb40 samples have been levitated, melted and cooled during 4.6 seconds of free fall in the 100 meter drop tube. Structures obtained are discussed.

Andrews, J. B.↗

Development of large diameter carbon monofilament

A process for preparing large diameter carbon-boron monofilament was developed. The process involves chemical vapor depositing a carbon-boron alloy monofilament from a BCl3, CH4, and H2 gas mixture onto a carbon substrate. Amorphous alloys were formed when gaseous mixtures containing greater than 20 percent methane (80 percent BCl3) were used. The longest uninterrupted lengths of carbon-boron monofilament were produced using a CH4/BCl3 gas ratio of 2.34. It was found that the properties of the carbon-boron alloy monofilament improved when the carbon substrate was precleaned in chlorine. The highest strength monofilament was attained when a CH4/BCl3 gas volume ratio of 0.44 was 28 million N/sq cm (40 million psi). While the highest strengths were attained in this run, the 0.44 gas ratio and other CH4/BCl3 ratios less than 2.34 would not yield long runs. Runs using these ratios were usually terminated because of a break in the monofilament within the reactor. It is felt better process control could probably be achieved by varying the amount of hydrogen; the BCl3/H2 ratio was kept constant in these studies.

Jacob, B.↗

Rapidly Solidified Alloys Made by Chill Block Melt-spinning Processes

Chill block melt-spinning (CBMS) processes are used to make rapidly solidified microcrystalline and amorphous alloy ribbon, flakes, etc. Fundamentals of CBMS processes are discussed in light of recent advances. Special regard is given to ribbon geometric defects (edge serrations, surface asperities, etc.). Photomicrographs of CBMS ribbon solidification microstructures are used to compare local solidification rates, especially in the vicinity of ribbon defects.

Liebermann, H. H.↗

A medium-range structure motif linking amorphous and crystalline states

Amorphous materials have no long-range order, but there are ordered structures at short range (2–5 Å), medium range (5–20 Å) and even longer length scales. While regular and semiregular polyhedra are often found as short-range ordering in amorphous materials, the nature of medium-range order has remained elusive. Consequently, it is difficult to determine whether there exists any structural link at medium range or longer length scales between the amorphous material and its crystalline counterparts. Moreover, an amorphous material often crystallizes into a phase of different composition, with very different underlying structural building blocks, further compounding the issue. Here, we capture an intermediate crystalline cubic phase in a Pd-Ni-P amorphous alloy and reveal the structure of the medium-range order, a six-membered tricapped trigonal prism cluster (6M-TTP) with a length scale of 12.5 Å. We find that the 6M-TTP can pack periodically to several tens of nanometres to form the cube phase. Our experimental observations provide evidence of a structural link between the amorphous and crystalline phases in a Pd-Ni-P alloy at the medium-range length scale and suggest that it is the connectivity of the 6M-TTP clusters that distinguishes the crystalline and amorphous phases. These findings will shed light on the structure of amorphous materials at extended length scales beyond that of short-range order.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Corrosion-resistant amorphous metallic films of Mo49Cr33B18 alloy

Corrosion-resistant amorphous metallic alloy films of Mo49Cr33B18 with a crystallization temperature of 590 C were deposited onto glass and quartz substrates by magnetron sputter-quench technique. The amorphous nature of the films was confirmed by their diffuse X-ray diffraction patterns. The deposited films are densely packed (zone T) and exhibit low stress and good adhesion to the substrate. Corrosion current of as-deposited coating of MoCrB amorphous metallic alloy is approximately three orders of magnitude less than the corrosion current of 304 stainless steel in 1N H2SO4 solution.

Ramesham, R.↗

Friction and surface chemistry of some ferrous-base metallic glasses

The friction properties of some ferrous-base metallic glasses were measured both in argon and in vacuum to a temperature of 350 C. The alloy surfaces were also analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to identify the compounds and elements present on the surface. The results of the investigation indicate that even when the surfaces of the amorphous alloys, or metallic glasses, are atomically clean, bulk contaminants such as boric oxide and silicon dioxide diffuse to the surfaces. Friction measurements in both argon and vacuum indicate that the alloys exhibit higher coefficients of friction in the crystalline state than they do in the amorphous state.

Miyoshi, K.↗