Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

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Abstract: In this paper‚ the physical and mechanical properties of Al nanocomposite reinforced with CNTs wereinvestigated. High purity Al powder and Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with different percentage were mixed by ballmilling method and the composite was fabricated by cold pressing followed by sintering technique. The variation ofdensity and hardness of composite with CNTcontent was investigated. The microstructure of composite was evaluatedby SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and XRD (X -Ray Diffraction). The results show that the density and hardnessincrease with CNTpercentage.

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Abstract: Equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) is a promising technique for production of ultra fine-grain (UFG) materials of few hundred nanometers size. In this research, the grain refinement of aluminium strip is accelerated by sandwiching it between two copper strips and then subjecting the three strips to ECAE process simultaneously. The loosely packed copper-aluminium-copper laminated billet was passed through ECAE die up to 8 passes using the B_c route. Then, tensile properties and some microstructural characteristics of the aluminium layer were evaluated. The scanning and transmission electron microscopes, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the microstructure. The results show that the yield stress of middle layer (Al) is increased significantly by about four times after application of ECAE throughout the four consecutive passes and then it is slightly decreased when more ECAE passes are applied. An ultra fine grain within the range of 500 to 600 nm was obtained in the Al layer by increasing the thickness of the copper layers. It was observed that the reduction of grain size in the aluminium layer is nearly 55% more than that of a ECA-extruded single layer aluminium billet, i.e. extruding a single aluminium strip or a billet without any clad for the same amount of deformation. This behaviour was attributed to the higher rates of dislocations interaction and cell formation and texture development during the ECAE of the laminated composite compared to those of a single billet

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In this research an ultra-fine grained composite structure consisting of an intermetallic matrix together with dispersed nano-sized Al2O3 obtained via mechanical activation of TiO2 and Al in a high energy ball mill and sintering of consolidated samples. Phase composition and morphology of the milled and sintered samples were evaluated by XRD and SEM techniques Thermal behavior of the powder sample milled for 8 hours was evaluated by DTA technique. DTA results showed that, the reaction happens in two steps. The first step is the aluminothermic reduction of TiO2 with Al. XRD observations reveals that minor amount of Ti3Al phase formed during reduction reaction together with TiAl and Al2O3 major phases. This intermetallic phase disappeared when sintering temperature was increased to 850 ºC. The second step in DTA is related to a reaction between residual Al in the system (partly dissolved in TiAl lattice) and the Ti3Al phase produced earlier at lower temperatures. SEM micrographs reveal that by completion of the reduction reaction more homogeneous and finer microstructure is observable in sintered samples.

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Abstract: Electroless Nickel (EN) composite coatings embedded with Cr2O3 and/or MoS2 particles were deposited to combine the characters of both Cr2O3 and MoS2 into one coating in this study. The effects of the co-deposited particles on corrosion behavior of the coating in 3.5% NaCl media were investigated. The results showed that both Ni-P and Ni-P composite coatings had significant improvement on corrosion resistance in comparison to the substrate. Codeposition of Cr2O3 in coating improved corrosion characteristic but co-deposition of MoS2 decreased corrosion resistance of the coating.

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Abstract: Zirconia solid electrolytes with nonequilibrium composite structure were prepared by impregnation of a porous 8YSZ matrix with a solution of Zirconia. Microstructures were characterized by XRD and SEM. The electrical properties were studied by impedance spectroscopy as a function of temperature. Biaxial flexural strength and fracture toughness of composite samples were measured by ring on ring and Vickers microhardness indentation methods respectively. The microstructures of the composite electrolytes were composed of cubic grains surrounded by tetragonal second phase grains. It was shown that the electrical and mechanical properties of the prepared electrolyte can be adjusted by controlling the amount of doped zirconia. Increasing the amount of doped zirconia increases the tetragonal phase content which improves fracture toughness and fracture strength. In addition, increasing tetragonal phase content of the composite electrolytes decreases the conductivity at high temperatures while the situation is reversed at low temperatures.

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Abstract: In this study Al-5 (Vol) % SiCp nanocomposite powder has been successfully synthesized by high-energy planetary milling of Al and SiC powders for a period of 25 h at a ball-to-powder ratio of 15:1. The changes of the lattice strain, the crystallite size of the matrix phase, and the nanocomposite powder microstructure with time have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray mapping, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The morphologies of the nanocomposite powders obtained after 25 h of milling have also been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that nanocomposite powders were composed of near-spherical particles and, moreover, the SiC particles were uniformly distributed in the aluminum matrix.

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Abstract: Nano-structural synthesized materials can be fabricated utilizing intensive milling after combustion synthesis. The Al2O3-TiB2 ceramic composite has been synthesized by aluminothermic reactions between Al, Ti (TiO2), and B (B2O3 or H3BO3). Boric acid (H3BO3) is less expensive than boron oxide, and after being dehydrated at 200°C, boron oxide will be obtained. In this study, Al, TiO2, and boric acid were used as the starting materials to fabricate an Al2O3-TiB2 ceramic composite. After mechanical activation and thermal explosion processes, intensive milling was performed for 5, 10, and 20h to assess the formation of a nano-structural composite. The X-ray phase analysis of the as-synthesized sample showed that considerable amounts of the remained reactants incorporated with the TiO phase were present in the XRD pattern. The results showed that the average crystallite size for alumina as a matrix were 150, 55 and 33 nm, after 5h, 10h, and 20h of intensive milling, respectively. The SEM microstructure of the as-milled samples indicated that increasing the milling duration after combustion synthesis causes a significant reduction in the particle size of the products, which leads to an increase in the homogeneity of particles size. A significant increase in the microhardness values of the composite powders was revealed after intensive milling process.

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Abstract: Composite specimens were prepared by dispersion of various amounts of nano-sized Al2O3 fillers in a monomer system containing 60% Bis-GMA and 40% TEGDMA. For comparative purposes, composite samples containing micrometer size Al2O3 fillers were also prepared following the same procedure. The mechanical properties of the light- cured samples were assessed by three-point flexural strength, diametral tensile strength, and microhardness tests. The results indicated a more than hundred percent increase in the flexural strength and nearly an eighty percent increase in the diametral tensile strength values in the samples containing nano-size Al2O3 filler particles. It is interesting to note that, this improvement was observed at a much lower nano-size filler content. Fracture surfaces analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, indicated a brittle type of fracture in both sets of specimens.

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Abstract: Microwave processing is one of the novel methods for combustion synthesis of intermetallic compounds and
composites. This method brings about a lot of opportunities for processing of uniquely characterized materials. In this
study, the combustion synthesis of TiAl/Al2O3 composite via microwave heating has been investigated by the
development of a heat transfer model including a microwave heating source term. The model was tested and verified
by experiments available in the literature. Parametric studies were carried out by the model to evaluate the effects of
such parameters as input power, sample aspect ratio, and porosity on the rate of process. The results showed that
higher input powers and sample volumes, as well as the use of bigger susceptors made the reaction enhanced. It was
also shown that a decrease in the porosity and aspect ratio of sample leads to the enhancement of the process.

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TiO2/SiO2 nanocomposite with molar ratio 1:1 was synthesized by a free calcination sol-gel method using titanium tetra chloride and tetraethylorthosilicate as raw materials. In the composite, TiO2 nanocrystals are highly dispersed in the amorphous SiO2 matrix and the mater showed size quantization effect arising from the presence of extremely small titanium oxide species having a low coordination number. Thermal phase transformation studies of the as-prepared composite were carried out by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC) analyses. The studies showed existence of anatase phase in all the tested temperatures. When temperature exceeds 400°C, brookite phase was formed beside anatase phase. At 950°C amorphous silica matrix was transformed to crystobalite and brookite phase disappeared. Finally, small peaks of rutile phase were detectable at 1100°C.

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Electrochemical coating processes are significantly affected by applied magnetic fields due to the generation of electromagnetic forces. The present research work has been undertaken to study the effect of coating parameters such as current density and alumina concentration on the characteristics of Ni-Al2O3 composite coating under static magnetic field. Ni-Al2O3 composite coating was applied on a mild steel substrate using conventional Watts solution containing Al2O3 particles with and without magnetic field. The coating microstructure and Al2O3 particle density in the coating layer were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the applied magnetic field made the coating structure finer and leads to the increases of the particle content in the coating. However, the results confirmed that the magnetic forces inversely affected the particle density in the coating at higher current density than that of normal coating process.

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C-SiC composites with carbon-based mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) preforms are new type of highpreformance and high-temperature structural materials for aerospace applications. In this study MCMB-SiC composites with high density (2.41 g.cm-3) and high bending strength (210 MPa,) was prepared by cold isostatic press of mixed mesophase carbon powder derived from mesophase pitch with different amount (0, 2.5, 5%) nano SiC particles. All samples were carbonized under graphite bed until 1000 °C and finally liquid silicon infiltration (LSI). Microstructure observations resultant samples were performed by scanning electron microscopy and transition electron microscopy (SEM & TEM). Density, porosity and bending strength of final samples were also measured and calculated. Results indicates that the density of samples with nano additive increased significantly in compare to the free nano additives samples.

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Metal matrix composite coatings reinforced with nano-particles have attracted scientific and technological interest due to the enhanced properties exhibited by these coatings. Cobalt/hexagonal boron nitride nano-composite coatings were prepared by means of the pulse current electroplating from a chloride electrolyte on copper substrates and a comparison was made with the pure cobalt in terms of structure and tribological properties. Effects of particles concentration (5-20 gL-1) and current density (50-200 mA cm-2) on the characterization of electroplated coatings were investigated via X-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy and Vickers micro-hardness. Moreover, the tribological behavior was studied using pin-on-disc method. The results showed that cobalt/hexagonal boron nitride nano-composite coatings have higher hardness, wear resistance and lower friction coefficient than pure cobalt and the plating parameters strongly affect the coating’s properties

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In the present study, bioceramic composites based hydroxyapatite (HAp) reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was synthesized via sol-gel technique. The dried gels were individually heated at a rate of 5°C/min up to 600°C for 2 h in a muffle furnace in order to obtain HAp-MWCNTs mixed powder. Composites were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM/SAED/EDX and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Results showed the synthesis of HAp particles in the MWCNTs sol which was prepared in advance, leads to an excellent dispersion of MWCNTs in HAp matrix. Apparent average size of crystallites increased by increasing the percentage of MWCNTs. The average crystallite size of samples (at 600°C), estimated by Scherrer’s equation was found to be ~50-60 nm and was confirmed by TEM. MWCNTs kept their cylindrical graphitic structure in composites and pinned and fastened HAp by the formation of hooks and bridges.

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Accumulative roll-bonding process (ARB) is an important severe plastic deformation technique for production of the ultrafine grained, nanostructured and nanocomposite materials in the form of plates and sheets. In the present work, this process used for manufacturing Al/SiO 2 nanocomposites by using Aluminum 1050 alloy sheets and nano sized SiO 2 particles, at ambient temperature. After 8 cycles of ARB process, the tribological properties and wear resistance of produced nanocomposites were investigated. The wear tests by abrasion were performed in a pinon-disc tribometer. Results show that by increasing ARB cycles and the amount of nano powders, the friction coefficient of produced nanocomposites decreases.

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Ni-P Electroless coatings provide appropriate resistance to wear and corrosion. Co-deposition of particles between layers can improve their properties, especially general corrosion and erosion-corrosion behavior by means of nano diamond as reinforcing particles. In this study Ni-P/nano diamond composite deposition were deposited on steel substrate. Structure of the coatings and corrosion resistance of theme were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and corrosion tests in salty media. The composite structure of the deposit was evaluated as nano size without using any surfactants. Also results for the composite coating show better corrosion protection and higher hardness comparing with as -deposited Ni-P. The optimum concentration of diamond nanometer particles were found by evaluation of scanning electron microscopy pictures, hardness measurement, linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results

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In the present paper, the influence of cobalt additive on the sintering/infiltration behavior of W-Cu composite was studied. For this purpose, the mixed powders of tungsten and cobalt were compacted by CIP method and then sintered at 1450, 1550 and 1600 °C in a hydrogen atmosphere. The sintered specimens at 1550 °C were subsequently infiltrated with liquid copper at 1250 °C for 10, 60 and 120 min. The microstructure and composition of samples were evaluated using SEM, EDS as well as XRD techniques. The density of the sintered samples was measured by Archimedes method. Vickers indentation test was used to measurement hardness. It was found that sintering mechanism of tungsten powder depends on temperature and cobalt additive content. Also, the best infiltration behavior was observed in the samples with optimum cobalt value. In addition, it was found that the W-W contiguity as well as dihedral angle decreases as cobalt increases. Density and hardness of infiltrated specimens are attained 16.28-16.79 g.cm-3 and 220-251 VHN, respectively.

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In this research, infiltration behavior of W-Ag composite compacts with Nickel and Cobalt as additives has been investigated. Nickel and Cobalt were added to Tungsten powder by two distinct methods: mixing elementally and reduction of salt solution. The coated Tungsten powders were compacted under controlled pressures to make porous skeleton with 32-37 vol. % porosity. Infiltration process was carried out at 1100 ̊C under a reducing atmosphere for 1h. The effect of additives on infiltration of Ag and density were evaluated by SEM and Archimedes methods. Properties of the specimens were compared following two distinct processes namely: I) sintering simultaneously with infiltration process and II) sintering prior to infiltration (pre-sintering process). It was found that specimens which were pre-sintered and then infiltrated with molten silver represent higher hardness and finer microstructure than the specimens infiltrated simultaneously with sintering.

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Metallic-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites are promising materials for structural applications especially in the aerospace industry. One of the interesting laminate composites is the Ti-TiAl 3 multilayer. In this work, commercially pure sheets of aluminum and titanium with almost equal thickness of around 0.5 mm were explosively joined. The achieved multilayers were annealed at 630 ℃in different times so that an intermetallic layer was formed at the Ti/Al interface. The resulting microstructure was studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). TiAl3 was the only intermetallic phase that was observed in all annealing times. The kinetics of the formation of TiAl 3 was investigated and compared to previous research studies performed on Ti-Al multilayers which were fabricated using methods other than explosive welding.

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Achieving extreme hardness in the newly synthetic steel formed by converting from initial amorphous state to subse-quent crystalline structure –named as devitrification process- was studied in this research work. Results of TEM observa-tions and XRD tests showed that crystallized microstructure were made up four different nano-scale phases i.e., α-Fe, Fe 36 Cr12 Mo10 , Fe 3 C and Fe3 B. More, Vickers hardness testing revealed a maximum hardness of 18.6 GPa which is signifi-cantly harder than existing hardmetals. Detailed kinetic and structural studies have been proof that two key factors were contributed to achieve this extreme hardness supersaturation of transition metal alloying elements (especially Nb) and also reduction in the structure to the nano-size crystals.