2014 Vol. 21, No. 11

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Bauxite washing for the removal of clay
Ishaq Ahmad, Ernst-Ulrich Hartge, Joachim Werther, and  Reiner Wischnewski
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1045-1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1008-4
Abstract:
Clay impurities associated with bauxite negatively affect the Bayer process for alumina production. These impurities should be removed as far as possible by a beneficiation technique before the ore is used as feed for the Bayer process. In this current investigation, bauxite washing was conducted in the laboratory. Bauxite washing is a physical process that causes the disintegration and deagglomeration of the clay matrix, and bauxite is liberated from the clay (mainly rich in silica). Subsequently, separation occurs with the assistance of wet screening at a predetermined cut size. Three techniques were investigated in the laboratory: drum washing, water-jet washing, and ultrasonic washing. Various operating parameters were investigated for drum washing and water-jet washing, including materials retention time, drum rotation speed, solid concentration, water-jet spray duration, pressure, and height. We concluded that the retention time of bauxite inside the drum at a solid concentration of 55wt% and a drum rotation speed of 31 r/min is the dominant parameter for the removal of clay from the bauxite surface.
Effect of cooling rate on the crystallization behavior of perovskite in high titanium-bearing blast furnace slag
Lu Liu, Mei-long Hu, Chen-guang Bai, Xue-wei Lü, Yu-zhou Xu, and  Qing-yu Deng
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1052-1061. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1009-3
Abstract:
The effect of cooling rate on the crystallization of perovskite in high Ti-bearing blast furnace (BF) slag was studied using confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Results showed that perovskite was the primary phase formed during the cooling of slag. On the slag surface, the growth of perovskite proceeded via the successive production of quasi-particles along straight lines, which further extended in certain directions. The morphology and structure of perovskite was found to vary as a function of cooling rate. At cooling rates of 10 and 30 K/min, the dendritic arms of perovskite crossed obliquely, while they were orthogonal at a cooling rate of 20 K/min and hexagonal at cooling rates of 40 and 50 K/min. These three crystal morphologies thus obtained at different cooling rates respectively corresponded to the orthorhombic, cubic and hexagonal crystal structures of perovskite. The observed change in the structure of perovskite could probably be attributed to the deficiency of O2−, when Ti2O3 was involved in the formation of perovskite.
Effect of magnesium addition on inclusions in H13 die steel
Zheng Wu, Jing Li, Cheng-bin Shi, and  Liang-liang Wang
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1062-1067. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1010-x
Abstract:
The effect of magnesium addition on the number, morphology, composition, size, and density of inclusions in H13 die steel was studied. The results show that the total oxygen content in the steel can be significantly decreased to 0.0008wt%. Al2O3 and MnS inclusions are changed into nearly spherical MgO·Al2O3 spinel and spherical MgO·MgS inclusions, respectively. The number of inclusions larger than 1 μm decreases and the number of inclusions smaller than 1 μm increases with increasing magnesium content. V(N,C) precipitates around MgO·Al2O3 and MgO·MgS inclusions during solidification of liquid steel. The densities of MgO·Al2O3 spinel inclusions are lower than that of alumina inclusions. With increasing magnesium content in the Mg-containing inclusions, the density of inclusions decreases, leading to the improvement of inclusion removal efficiency.
Formation mechanism and control of MgO·Al2O3 inclusions in non-oriented silicon steel
Yan-hui Sun, Ya-nan Zeng, Rui Xu, and  Kai-ke Cai
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1068-1076. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1011-9
Abstract:
On the basis of the practical production of non-oriented silicon steel, the formation of MgO·Al2O3 inclusions was analyzed in the process of “basic oxygen furnace (BOF) → RH → compact strip production (CSP)”. The thermodynamic and kinetic conditions of the formation of MgO·Al2O3 inclusions were discussed, and the behavior of slag entrapment in molten steel during RH refining was simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. The results showed that the MgO/Al2O3 mass ratio was in the range from 0.005 to 0.017 and that MgO·Al2O3 inclusions were not observed before the RH refining process. In contrast, the MgO/Al2O3 mass ratio was in the range from 0.30 to 0.50, and the percentage of MgO·Al2O3 spinel inclusions reached 58.4% of the total inclusions after the RH refining process. The compositions of the slag were similar to those of the inclusions; furthermore, the critical velocity of slag entrapment was calculated to be 0.45 m·s−1 at an argon flow rate of 698 L·min−1, as simulated using CFD software. When the test steel was in equilibrium with the slag, [Mg] was 0.00024wt%–0.00028wt% and [Al]s was 0.31wt%–0.37wt%; these concentrations were theoretically calculated to fall within the MgO·Al2O3 formation zone, thereby leading to the formation of MgO·Al2O3 inclusions in the steel. Thus, the formation of MgO·Al2O3 inclusions would be inhibited by reducing the quantity of slag entrapment, controlling the roughing slag during casting, and controlling the composition of the slag and the MgO content in the ladle refractory.
Hard magnetization direction and its relation with magnetic permeability of highly grain-oriented electrical steel
Hao Wang, Chang-sheng Li, and  Tao Zhu
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1077-1082. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1012-8
Abstract:
The magnetic properties of highly grain-oriented electrical steel vary along different directions. In order to investigate these properties, standard Epstein samples were cut at different angles to the rolling direction. The hard magnetization direction was found at an angle of 60° to the rolling direction. To compare the measured and fitting curves, when the magnetic field intensity is higher than 7000 A/m, it is appropriate to simulate the relation of magnetic permeability and magnetization angle using the conventional elliptical model. When the magnetic field intensity is less than 3000 A/m, parabolic fitting models should be used; but when the magnetic field intensity is between 3000 and 7000 A/m, hybrid models with high accuracy, as proposed in this paper, should be applied. Piecewise relation models of magnetic permeability and magnetization angle are significant for improving the accuracy of electromagnetic engineering calculations of electrical steel, and these new models could be applied in further industrial applications.
Benevolent behavior of Kleinia grandiflora leaf extract as a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in sulfuric acid solution
Muthukrishnan Pitchaipillai, Karthik Raj, Jeyaprabha Balasubramanian, and  Prakash Periakaruppan
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1083-1095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1013-7
Abstract:
The ethanolic extract of Kleinia grandiflora leaves was characterized and tested for its potential anticorrosion properties on mild steel in 1 M H2SO4 medium using mass-loss analysis, potentiodynamic polarization measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of mild steel was studied in the range of 308 to 328 K. The inhibition efficiency was observed to increase with increasing concentration of the extract. Polarization curves revealed that the Kleinia grandiflora leaf extract is a mixed inhibitor. Impedance diagrams revealed that an increase of Kleinia grandiflora leaf extract concentration increased the charge transfer resistance and decreased the double-layer capacitance. The adsorption process obeys Langmuir’s model, with a standard free energy of adsorption (ΔGads) of −18.62 kJ/mol. The obtained results indicate that the Kleinia grandiflora leaf extract can serve as an effective inhibitor for the corrosion of mild steel in a sulfuric acid medium.
Effect of vanadium and chromium on the microstructural features of V-Cr-Mn-Ni spheroidal carbide cast irons
V. G. Efremenko, K. Shimizu, A. P. Cheiliakh, T. V. Kozarevskaya, K. Kusumoto, and  K. Yamamoto
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1096-1108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1014-6
Abstract:
The objective of this investigation is to study the influence of vanadium (5.0wt%–10.0wt%) and chromium (0–9.0wt%) on the microstructure and hardness of Cr-V-Mn-Ni white cast irons with spheroidal vanadium carbides. The alloys’ microstructural features are presented and discussed with regard to the distribution of phase elements. The structural constituents of the alloys are spheroidal VC, proeutectoid cementite, ledeburite eutectic, rosette-shaped carbide eutectic (based on M7C3), pearlite, martensite, and austenite. Their combinations and area fraction (AF) ratios are reported to be influenced by the alloys’ chemical composition. Spheroidized VC particles are found to be sites for the nucleation of carbide eutectics. Cr and V are shown to substitute each other in the VC and M7C3 carbides, respectively. Chromium alloying leads to the formation of a eutectic (γ-Fe + M7C3), preventing the appearance of proeutectoid cementite in the structure. Vanadium and chromium are revealed to increase the total carbide fraction and the amount of austenite in the matrix. Cr is observed to play a key role in controlling the metallic matrix microstructure.
Cooling rate effects on the structure and transformation behavior of Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloys
Nicoleta-Monica Lohan, Marius-Gabriel Suru, Bogdan Pricop, and  Leandru-Gheorghe Bujoreanu
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1109-1114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1015-5
Abstract:
Different fragments of a hot-rolled and homogenized Cu-Zn-Al shape memory alloy (SMA) were subjected to thermal cycling by means of a differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) device. During thermal cycling, heating was performed at the same constant rate of increasing temperature while cooling was carried out at different rates of decreasing temperature. For each cooling rate, the temperature decreased in the same thermal interval. During each cooling stage, an exothermic peak (maximum) was observed on the DSC thermogram. This peak was associated with forward martensitic transformation. The DSC thermograms were analyzed with PROTEUS software: the critical martensitic transformation start (Ms) and finish (Mf) temperatures were determined by means of integral and tangent methods, and the dissipated heat was evaluated by the area between the corresponding maximum plot and a sigmoid baseline. The effects of the increase in cooling rate, assessed from a calorimetric viewpoint, consisted in the augmentation of the exothermic peak and the delay of direct martensitic transformation. The latter had the tendency to move to lower critical transformation temperatures. The martensite plates changed in morphology by becoming more oriented and by an augmenting in surface relief, which corresponded with the increase in cooling rate as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Characteristics of alumina particles in dispersion-strengthened copper alloys
Xue-hui Zhang and  Xiao-xian Li
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1115-1119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1016-4
Abstract:
Two types of alumina dispersion-strengthened copper (ADSC) alloys were fabricated by a novel in-situ reactive synthesis (IRS) and a traditional internal oxidation (IO) process. The features of alumina dispersoids in these ADSC alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It is found that nano-sized γ-Al2O3 particles of approximately 10 nm in diameter are homogeneously distributed in the IRS-ADSC composites. Meanwhile, larger-sized, mixed crystal structure alumina with rod-shaped morphology is embedded in the IO-ADSC alloy. The IRS-ADSC composites can obtain better mechanical and physical properties than the IO-ADSC composites; the tensile strength of the IRS-ADSC alloy can reach 570 MPa at room temperature, its electrical conductivity is 85% IACS, and the Rockwell hardness can reach 86 HRB.
Effect of boron addition on the microstructure and stress-rupture properties of directionally solidified superalloys
Bao-ping Wu, Lin-han Li, Jian-tao Wu, Zhen Wang, Yan-bin Wang, Xing-fu Chen, Jian-xin Dong, and  Jun-tao Li
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1120-1126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1017-3
Abstract:
This study is focused on the effect of boron addition, in the range of 0.0007wt% to 0.03wt%, on the microstructure and stress-rupture properties of a directionally solidified superalloy. With increasing boron content in the as-cast alloys, there is an increase in the fraction of the γ′/γ eutectic and block borides precipitate around the γ′/γ eutectic. At a high boron content of 0.03wt%, there is precipitation of lamellar borides. Upon heat treatment, fine block borides tend to precipitate at grain boundaries with increasing boron content. Overall, the rupture life of the directionally solidified superalloy is significantly improved with the addition of nominal content of boron. However, the rupture life decreases when the boron content exceeds 0.03wt%.
Effect of microstructure on the mechanical, thermal, and electronic property measurement of ceramic coatings
Xiaojuan Lu
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1127-1131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1018-2
Abstract:
Ceramic materials were investigated as thermal barrier coatings and electrolytes. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD) were employed to fabricate samples, and the mechanical properties and microstructure were examined by nanoindentation and microscopy, respectively. Yttria-stabilized zirconia/alumina (YSZ/Al2O3) composite coatings, a candidate for thermal barrier coatings, yield a kinky, rather than smooth, load-displacement curve. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination reveals that the kinky curve is because of the porous microstructure and cracks are caused by the compression of the indenter. Li0.34La0.51TiO2.94 (LLTO) on Si/SrRuO3 (Si/SRO) substrates, an ionic conductor in nature, demonstrates electronic performance. Although SEM images show a continuous and smooth microstructure, a close examination of the microstructure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that the observed spikes indicate electronic performance. Therefore, we can conclude that ceramic coatings could serve multiple purposes but their properties are microstructure-dependent.
Mechanical, electrical, and thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube-based silver and silver-palladium alloy composites
Hemant Pal and  Vimal Sharma
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1132-1140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1019-1
Abstract:
The mechanical, electrical, and thermal expansion properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based silver and silver-palladium (10:1, w/w) alloy nanocomposites are reported. To tailor the properties of silver, CNTs were incorporated into a silver matrix by a modified molecular level-mixing process. CNTs interact weakly with silver because of their non-reactive nature and lack of mutual solubility. Therefore, palladium was utilized as an alloying element to improve interfacial adhesion. Comparative microstructural characterizations and property evaluations of the nanocomposites were performed. The structural characterizations revealed that decorated type-CNTs were dispersed, embedded, and anchored into the silver matrix. The experimental results indicated that the modification of the silver and silver-palladium nanocomposite with CNT resulted in increases in the hardness and Young’s modulus along with concomitant decreases in the electrical conductivity and the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The hardness and Young’s modulus of the nanocomposites were increased by 30%–40% whereas the CTE was decreased to 50%–60% of the CTE of silver. The significantly improved CTE and the mechanical properties of the CNT-reinforced silver and silver-palladium nanocomposites are correlated with the intriguing properties of CNTs and with good interfacial adhesion between the CNTs and silver as a result of the fabrication process and the contact action of palladium as an alloying element.
Fabrication of solid-phase-sintered SiC-based composites with short carbon fibers
Xian-hui Li, Qing-zhi Yan, Yong-jun Han, Mei-qi Cao, and  Chang-chun Ge
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1141-1145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1020-8
Abstract:
Solid-phase-sintered SiC-based composites with short carbon fibers (Csf/SSiC) in concentrations ranging from 0 to 10wt% were prepared by pressureless sintering at 2100°C. The phase composition, microstructure, density, and flexural strength of the composites with different Csf contents were investigated. SEM micrographs showed that the Csf distributed in the SSiC matrix homogeneously with some gaps at the fiber/matrix interfaces. The densities of the composites decreased with increasing Csf content. However, the bending strength first increased and then decreased with increasing Csf content, reaching a maximum value of 390 MPa at a Csf content of 5wt%, which was 60 MPa higher than that of SSiC because of the pull-out strengthening mechanism. Notably, Csf was graphitized and damaged during the sintering process because of the high temperature and reaction with boron derived from the sintering additive B4C; this graphitization degraded the fiber strengthening effect.
Fluidized bed coating efficiency and morphology of coatings for producing Al-based nanocomposite hollow spheres
Mostafa Amirjan, Hamid Khorsand, and  Manouchehr Khorasani
2014, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1146-1151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-014-1021-7
Abstract:
We performed fluidized bed coating of Al-based nanocomposite powder-binder suspensions onto polymer substrates. The effects of the type and amount of the binder and nanoparticle additive on the coating process efficiency and coating characteristics were investigated. The efficiency decreased from 52% to 49% as the processing time increased from 15 to 20 min. However, the amount and thickness of the coating also increased as the processing time and amount of the binder were increased. The addition of nanoparticles to the system decreased the thickness of the coating from 222 to 207 μm when polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as a binder. The suspension containing 3wt% R-4410 binder exhibited the greatest efficiency of 60%.