2017 Vol. 24, No. 10

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Research Article
High-efficiency trace Na extraction from crystal quartz ore used for fused silica-A pretreatment technology
Min Lin, Zhen-yu Pei, Yuan-yuan Liu, Zhang-jie Xia, Kang Xiong, Shao-min Lei, and  En-wen Wang
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1075-1086. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1498-y
Abstract:
Trace Na sources, extraction dynamics of trace Na, and influences of calcination temperature on quartz lattice, fluid inclusions, and muscovite were studied in detail herein for trace Na extraction from the quartz ore with water leaching at 90℃. Experimental results suggested that the trace Na sources included quartz lattice, fluid inclusions, and muscovite. The extraction rate of the trace Na in quartz ores can reach 31.0wt% after calcination at 900℃ for 5 h and water leaching at 90℃ for 24 h. The extraction process consisting of the dissolution of unfree Na and diffusion of free Na was dominated by calcination temperature. Calcination at 900℃ for 5 h was effective for extraction of the trace Na in fluid inclusions and muscovite. The extraction of the trace Na was mainly affected by the decrepitation of fluid inclusions when the calcination temperature ranged from 400 to 600℃ and by the damage of muscovite when the calcination temperature ranged from 600 to 900℃. Based on the extraction rates at different calcination temperatures, approximately 20.1wt% of the trace Na occurred in fluid inclusions, approximately 10.9wt% existed in muscovite, and 69.0wt% mainly occurred in quartz lattice.
Research ArticleOpen Access
Characteristics of combustion zone and evolution of mineral phases along bed height in ore sintering
Yao-zu Wang, Jian-liang Zhang, Zheng-jian Liu, Ya-peng Zhang, Dong-hui Liu, and  Yi-ran Liu
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1087-1095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1499-x
Abstract:
Quantitative parameters of bed combustion, including the thickness of the combustion zone (TCZ), the maximum temperature of the combustion zone (MTCZ), and the bed shrinkage, were characterized through a series of sinter pot tests in transparent quartz pots. The results showed that TCZ first ascended and then descended as the sintering process proceeded. The sintering process was divided into four stages according to the variation rate of the TCZ. A "relative-coordinate" method was developed to obtain the actual reaction temperature of sinter along the height direction. With increasing the sintering temperature, the reactants transformed and entered into liquid phases. The mineral composition and microstructure of the sinter were characterized through X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Liquid phases with greater Fe and Al contents were more likely to form acicular-like silico-ferrite of calcium and aluminum after crystallization because of the outward spread of Al, which led to a better fluidity of the liquid. An evolution mechanism of "solid-state reaction-liquid phases formation-crystallization" of the mineral phases is proposed.
Research Article
Shear-thinning behavior of the CaO-SiO2-CaF2-Si3N4 system mold flux and its practical application
Ying Xu, Zhi-peng Yuan, Li-guang Zhu, Yi-hua Han, and  Xing-juan Wang
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1096-1103. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1500-8
Abstract:
Satisfying the mold-flux performance requirements for high-speed continuous casting necessitates the development of a new non-Newtonian-fluid mold flux with shear-thinning behavior, i.e., a mold flux whose viscosity is relatively high under lower shear rates and relatively low under higher shear rates. In this work, a mold flux that exhibits shear-thinning behavior was developed by adding different amounts of Si3N4 to the CaO-SiO2-CaF2 mold flux. The shear-thinning behavior was investigated using a rotational viscometer. In addition, the microstructure of the newly prepared slags was studied by high-temperature Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the mechanism of shear-thinning was attributable to a temporary viscosity loss caused by the one-way shear stress, whereas the corresponding magnitude of shear-thinning was closely related to the degree of polymerization (DP). Finally, the non-Newtonian fluid mold flux was used for laboratory casting tests, which revealed that the mold flux could reduce slag entrapment and positively affect the continuous casting optimization.
Research Article
New insights into the extraction of invisible gold in a low-grade high-sulfur Carlin-type gold concentrate by bio-pretreatment
Xiao-bin Qiu, Jian-kang Wen, Song-tao Huang, Hong-ying Yang, Mei-lin Liu, and  Biao Wu
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1104-1111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1501-7
Abstract:
To extract gold from a low-grade (13.43 g/t) and high-sulfur (39.94wt% sulfide sulfur) Carlin-type gold concentrate from the Nibao deposit, Guizhou, a bio-pretreatment followed by carbon-in-pulp (CIP) cyanide leaching process was used. Various methods were used to detect the low-grade gold in the concentrate; however, only time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was successful. With bio-pretreatment, the gold recovery rate increased by approximately 70.16% compared with that obtained by direct cyanide leaching of the concentrate. Various attempts were made to increase the final gold recovery rate. However, approximately 20wt% of the gold was non-extractable. To determine the nature of this non-extractable gold, mineralogy liberation analysis (MLA), formation of secondary product during the bio-pretreatment, and the preg-robbing capacity of the carbonaceous matter in the ore were investigated. The results indicated that at least four factors affected the gold recovery rate:gold occurrence, tight junctions of gold-bearing pyrite with gangue minerals, jarosite coating of the ore, and the carbonaceous matter content.
Research ArticleOpen Access
A comparative study on corrosion kinetic parameter estimation methods for the early stage corrosion of Q345B steel in 3.5wt% NaCl solution
Shuang-yu Cai, Lei Wen, and  Ying Jin
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1112-1124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1502-6
Abstract:
Corrosion kinetic parameters play an important role in researchers' ability to understand and predict corrosion behavior. The corrosion kinetic parameters of structural steel Q345B specimens immersed in 3.5wt% NaCl solution for 1-2 h were determined using linear polarization resistance (LPR), Tafel-curve multiparameter fitting, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each method were investigated and discussed through comparative investigation. Meanwhile, the average corrosion rate was examined using traditional coupon tests. The results showed that the corrosion current density values estimated by EFM at a base frequency of 0.001 Hz and those obtained by Tafel-curve four-parameter fitting (TC4) are similar and consistent with the results of coupon tests. Because of their slight perturbation of the corrosion system, EIS and EFM/TC4 in collaborative application are the recommended techniques for determining the kinetics and the corresponding parameters for the homogeneous corrosion of the naked metal. In our study of the electrochemical kinetics, we obtained much more abundant and accurate electrochemical kinetic parameters through the combined use of different electrochemical methods.
Research Article
Precipitation analysis of as-cast HK40 steel after isothermal aging
M. L. Saucedo-Muñoz, A. Ortiz-Mariscal, V. M. Lopez-Hirata, J. D. Villegas-Cardenas, Orlando Soriano-Vargas, and  Erika O. Avila-Davila
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1125-1133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1503-5
Abstract:
As-cast HK40 steel was aged at 700, 800, or 900℃ for times as long as 2000 h. Microstructural characterization showed that the primary M7C3 carbide network contained a substantial content of manganese, in agreement with the microsegregation of manganese calculated by Thermo-Calc using the Scheil-Gulliver module. The dissolution of primary carbides caused the solute supersaturation of austenite and subsequent precipitation of fine M23C6 carbides in the austenite matrix for aged specimens. During prolonged aging, the carbide size increased with increasing time because of the coarsening process. A time-temperature-precipitation diagram for M23C6 carbides was calculated using the Thermo-Calc PRISMA software; this diagram showed good agreement with the experimental growth kinetics of precipitation. The fine carbide precipitation caused an increase in hardness; however, the coarsening process of carbides promoted a decrease in hardness. Nanoindentation tests of the austenite matrix indicated an increase in ductility with increasing aging time.
Research Article
Pitting corrosion resistance of a novel duplex alloy steel in alkali-activated slag extract in the presence of chloride ions
Jin-jie Shi, Jing Ming, and  Xin Liu
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1134-1144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1504-4
Abstract:
In this study, two types of reinforcing steels (conventional low-carbon steel and a novel duplex alloy steel with Cr and Mo) were exposed to chloride-contaminated extract solutions (ordinary Portland cement (OPC) extract and alkali-activated slag (AAS) extract) to investigate their pitting corrosion resistance. The results confirm that the pitting corrosion resistance of the alloy steel is much higher than that of the low-carbon steel in both extract solutions with various NaCl concentrations. Moreover, for each type of steel, the AAS extract contributes to a higher pitting corrosion resistance compared with the OPC extract in the presence of chloride ions, likely because of the formation of flocculent precipitates on the steel surface.
Research Article
Tempering stability of Fe-Cr-Mo-W-V hot forging die steels
Yuan-ji Shi, Xiao-chun Wu, Jun-wan Li, and  Na Min
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1145-1157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1505-3
Abstract:
The tempering stability of three Fe-Cr-Mo-W-V hot forging die steels (DM, H21, and H13) was investigated through hardness measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. Both dilatometer tests and TEM observations revealed that DM steel has a higher tempering stability than H21 and H13 steels because of its substantial amount of M2C (M represents metallic element) carbide precipitations. The activation energies of the M2C carbide precipitation processes in DM, H21, and H13 steels are 236.4, 212.0, and 228.9 kJ/mol, respectively. Furthermore, the results indicated that vanadium atoms both increase the activation energy and affect the evolution of M2C carbides, resulting in gradual dissolution rather than over-aging during tempering.
Research Article
Electrical annealing of severely deformed copper:microstructure and hardness
Saeed Nobakht and  Mohsen Kazeminezhad
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1158-1168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1506-2
Abstract:
Commercial pure copper sheets were severely deformed after primary annealing to a strain magnitude of 2.32 through constrained groove pressing. After induction of an electrical current, the sheets were heated for 0.5, 1, 2, or 3 s up to maximum temperatures of 150, 200, 250, or 300℃. To compare the annealing process in the current-carrying system with that in the current-free system, four other samples were heated to 300℃ at holding times of 60, 90, 120, or 150 s in a salt bath. The microstructural evolution and hardness values of the samples were then investigated. The results generally indicated that induction of an electrical current could accelerate the recrystallization process by decreasing the thermodynamic barriers for nucleation. In other words, the current effect, in addition to the thermal effect, enhanced the diffusion rate and dislocation climb velocity. During the primary stages of recrystallization, the grown nuclei of electrically annealed samples showed greater numbers and a more homogeneous distribution than those of the samples annealed in the salt bath. In the fully recrystallized condition, the grain size of electrically annealed samples was smaller than that of conventionally annealed samples. The hardness values and metallographic images obtained indicate that, unlike the conventional annealing process, which promotes restoration phenomena with increasing heating time, the electrical annealing process does not necessarily promote these phenomena. This difference is hypothesized to stem from conflicts between thermal and athermal effects during recrystallization.
Research Article
Development of liquid-nitrogen-cooling friction stir spot welding for AZ31 magnesium alloy joints
Dong Wu, Jun Shen, Meng-bing Zhou, Liang Cheng, and  Jia-xing Sang
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1169-1176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1507-1
Abstract:
A liquid-nitrogen-cooling friction stir spot welding (C-FSSW) technology was developed for welding AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets. The liquid-nitrogen cooling degraded the deformability of the welded materials such that the width of interfacial cracks increased with increasing cooling time. The grain size of the stirred zone (SZ) and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the C-FSSW-welded joints decreased, whereas that of the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) increased with increasing cooling time. The maximum tensile shear load of the C-FSSW-welded joints welded with a cooling time of 5 or 7 s was larger than that of the friction stir spot welding (FSSW)-welded joint, and the tensile shear load decreased with increasing cooling time. The microhardness of the C-FSSW-welded joints was greater than that of the FSSW-welded joint. Moreover, the microhardness of the SZ and the HAZ of the C-FSSW-welded joints increased, whereas that of the TMAZ decreased, with increasing cooling time.
Research Article
Effect of storage conditions on long-term stability of Ag nanoparticles formed via green synthesis
Oksana Velgosova, Elena Čižmárová, Jaroslav Málek, and  Jana Kavuličova
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1177-1182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1508-0
Abstract:
Spherical Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a diameter of 20 nm or smaller were biologically synthesized using algae Parachlorella kessleri. The effect of storage conditions on the long-term stability of AgNPs was investigated. UV/Vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurements revealed that the long-term stability of AgNPs was influenced by light and temperature conditions. The most significant loss of stability was observed for the AgNPs stored in daylight at room temperature. The AgNPs stored under these conditions began to lose their stability after approximately 30 d; after 100 d, a substantial amount of agglomerated particles settled to the bottom of the Erlenmeyer flask. The AgNPs stored in the dark at room temperature exhibited better long-term stability. Weak particle agglomeration began at approximately the 100th day. The AgNPs stored in the dark at about 5℃ exhibited the best long-term stability; the AgNPs stored under such conditions remained spherical, with a narrow size distribution, and stable (no agglomeration) even after 6 months. Zeta-potential measurements confirmed better dispersity and stability of AgNPs stored under these conditions.
Research ArticleOpen Access
Hydrogen storage properties of MgH2 co-catalyzed by LaH3 and NbH
Jian-zheng Song, Zi-yang Zhao, Xin Zhao, Rui-dong Fu, and  Shu-min Han
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1183-1191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1509-z
Abstract:
To improve the hydrogen storage properties of Mg-based alloys, a composite material of MgH2 + 10wt%LaH3 + 10wt%NbH was prepared by a mechanical milling method. The composite exhibited favorable hydrogen desorption properties, releasing 0.67wt% H2 within 20 min at 548 K, which was ascribed to the co-catalytic effect of LaH3 and NbH upon dehydriding of MgH2. By contrast, pure MgH2, an MgH2 + 20wt%LaH3 composite, and an MgH2 + 20wt%NbH composite only released 0.1wt%, 0.28wt%, and 0.57wt% H2, respectively, under the same conditions. Analyses by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy showed that the composite particle size was small. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic mapping demonstrated that La and Nb were distributed homogeneously in the matrix. Differential thermal analysis revealed that the dehydriding peak temperature of the MgH2 + 10wt%LaH3 + 10wt%NbH composite was 595.03 K, which was 94.26 K lower than that of pure MgH2. The introduction of LaH3 and NbH was beneficial to the hydrogen storage performance of MgH2.
Research Article
Preparation and properties of thermal insulation coatings with a sodium stearate-modified shell powder as a filler
Qiang Tang, Ya-mei Zhang, Pei-gen Zhang, Jin-jie Shi, Wu-bian Tian, and  Zheng-ming Sun
2017, vol. 24, no. 10, pp. 1192-1199. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-017-1510-6
Abstract:
Waste shell stacking with odor and toxicity is a serious hazard to our living environment. To make effective use of the natural resources, the shell powder was applied as a filler of outdoor thermal insulation coatings. Sodium stearate (SS) was used to modify the properties of shell powder to reduce its agglomeration and to increase its compatibility with the emulsion. The oil absorption rate and the spectrum reflectance of the shell powder show that the optimized content of SS as a modifier is 1.5wt%. The total spectrum reflectance of the coating made with the shell powder that is modified at this optimum SS content is 9.33% higher than that without any modification. At the optimum SS content of 1.5wt%, the thermal insulation of the coatings is improved by 1.0℃ for the cement mortar board and 1.6℃ for the steel plate, respectively. The scouring resistance of the coating with the 1.5wt% SS-modified shell powder is three times that of the coating without modification.